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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013 - 05 May 2 Tree Inspection 3 Spring Gardening 4 Council Article 5 Life Saving Award 6 Maplewood’s SEU’s Welcome Tokyo Grill 7 Maplewood Monthly May 2013 City Newsletter 7 Logo Contest 8 Yard Waste • Arbor Day Celebration May 4, 10:00AM - Noon Maplewood Nature Center • Spring Tea In The Barn May 25, 11:30AM seating only Bruentrup Heritage Farm 1720 County Road D East Call 651.770.1592 for reservations. • Lori Line Presents: Come Together June 27, 7:30PM Maplewood Performing Arts Theatre www.maplewoodarts.com • Buddy Holly Meets The Beatles June 29, 7:30PM Maplewood Performing Arts Theatre www.maplewoodarts.com Save The Date Your Citizen Services Department And How They Serve You The Citizen Services Department is service driven both internally to the City Council and to Maplewood citizens. The department is made up of three specific divisions: City Clerk, Department of Motor Vehicle and Elections. To name a few duties, the City Clerk staff is responsible for compiling the city council packets and minutes, business licenses and permits, data practice requests, general records retention, the city code of ordinances, the Maplewood Monthly and our Light It Up July 4th Celebration. Business licenses and permits cover a wide range of licenses from dog and cat licenses to intoxicating liquor and related licenses. One of the more extensive licenses is on-sale intoxicating liquor. Following is a scenario of a recently issued license. An application was received to reopen a restaurant on Rice Street that required an on-sale intoxicating liquor license, food establishment license, alarm permit and a cigarette license. The first order of business was to request the Police Department conduct a background investigation on the owners and City Clerk staff worked with the Community Development Department to ensure that any remodeling or equipment replacement being done was properly permitted and inspected to the required standards. Once the background investigation was complete it was found that nothing prohibited the applicants from holding a license and the individuals appeared before the City Council for final approval. The license was not issued until the Environmental Health Officer had signed off on the kitchen and the Building Officials had issued a Certificate of Occupancy. Once the city has approved the license on the local level the application is then submitted to the State for their records. If you have questions on liquor licenses, contact karen.guilfoile@ci.maplewood.mn.us (651.249.2002) or deb.schmidt@ci.maplewood.mn.us (651.249.2005). Thank you sponsors Sandberg Funeral & Cremation Services -continued on page 3 -continued on page 2 Maplewood Senior Wellness Expo FREE Admission For All! FREE Grab Bag For First 200 Participants. ThuRSdAy, MAy 16, 10:00AM - 2:00PM Maplewood’s Senior Expo is back for another exciting day packed full of information, giveaways, demonstrations and presentations. This FREE event will be held on Thursday, May 16 from 10:00AM - 2:00PM at the Maplewood Community Center located at 2100 White Bear Avenue. Meet the experts who can make your life healthier and happier. Learn hundreds of ways to improve your health and extend your life. Make sure to stop at each information booth and also attend the life-enhancing seminars. Participate in a full line-up of activities to keep you entertained, educated and informed! CElebrationth of J uly 4 LIGHT IT UP MAP LE WOOD! SAVE THE DATE! Visit the city website at www.ci.maplewood.mn.us for the meeting schedule of the City Council, Commissions and Boards. Frequently Called Numbers City Hall 651.249.2000 Maplewood Community Center 651.249.2230 Recreation 651.249.2120 Public Works 651.249.2400 Police Non-Emergency 651.767.0640 City of Maplewood Elected Officials Will Rossbach: Mayor 651.484.5427 will.rossbach@ci.maplewood.mn.us Kathleen Juenemann: Councilmember 651.771.3670 kathleen.juenemann@ci.maplewood.mn.us Rebecca Cave: Councilmember 651.773.7059 rebecca.cave@ci.maplewood.mn.us Robert Cardinal: Councilmember 651.765.8600 bob.cardinal@ci.maplewood.mn.us Marvin Koppen: Councilmember 651.770.5391 marvin.koppen@ci.maplewood.mn.us Jim Antonen: City Manager 651.249.2050 jim.antonen@ci.maplewood.mn.us City of Maplewood 2 May 2013 Promote Your Business In The Official City Newsletter Advertise and reach over 22,200 homes, businesses, and apartments with the Official Maplewood City Newsletter. For more information, contact Heidi Carey at 952.212.7333 or heidi@careycommunications.org Thank you to the advertisers who support this publication! Annual Inspections of Elm, Oak and Ash The City will being inspecting trees on public and private lands in Maplewood for three diseases or pests this year: Dutch Elm disease, Oak wilt, and Emerald Ash borer. Certified arborists from Branch and Bough Tree Service will do the inspections. If you suspect your tree has one of these diseases, call the Public Works Department at 651.249.2400. Information on these diseases is available on the City’s website at www.ci.maplewood. mn.us/trees. If you are planning on contracting out tree care, please note that Maplewood requires tree companies working in the City to be licensed with the City. A list of tree contractors licensed in Maplewood is on the City website. Full Service Tree Care Specializing In Difficult Removals HUGO TREE (651) 429-4705 www.hugotree.com 35 Years Of Experience! Removals, Pruning and Lot Clearing - we do it all! Citizen Services- continued from cover page The City issues business licenses and permits to individuals and local businesses and helps to ensure that standards are met to keep licenses current and in compliance with local ordinances and State Statutes. The licensing specialist assists license holders to understand the sometimes confusing city and state requirements that are to be met and is always willing to take the time to find the answer to those more unusual questions. Need a Passport? Come and see us! As a Federal Passport Acceptance Agency staff is available to provide information and service to you as you apply to obtain or replace your passport. Staff keeps current on all passport related procedures and policies so that we can provide each applicant with the one-on-one quality service they deserve. For more details, contact Regan Beggs, at regan.beggs@ci.maplewood.mn.us (651.249.2003). Need your vehicle tabs, title transferred or driver’s license? Come and visit city hall and have our motor vehicle staff assist you. Aside from assisting citizens, the motor vehicle staff performs work for some of our local dealers completing approximately 75,000 transactions annually. What started as the 50th birthday celebration of the city in 2006 grew into the Taste of Maplewood and has now come full circle back to our annual Light It Up, July 4th celebration! Please save the date for fireworks and fun on July 4th at Hazelwood Park. Our celebration partner is the Dog House Bar & Grill with family fun beginning at 4:00PM and last until the fireworks are over. Good for Gary, a Twin Cities cover band specializing in current and past dance hits will entertain the crowd and local food and adult beverages will be available. Watch for additional information to follow in the June Maplewood Monthly! Working with Ramsey County, City Clerk staff conducts our local, State and Federal elections, training approximately 175 election judges each year. Interested in working as an election judge? Visit www.ci.maplewood.mn.us or call Deputy City Clerk Deb Schmidt at 651.249.2003 for additional information. We are here to serve you at city hall – enjoy the free parking and extended hours on Monday from 8:00AM to 6:00PM Tuesday through Friday from 8:00AM to 4:30PM. For additional information visit the city website or call 651.249.2000. The City Council meets on the second and fourth Monday of the month. City of Maplewood Elected Officials Will Rossbach: Mayor 651.484.5427 will.rossbach@ci.maplewood.mn.us Kathleen Juenemann: Councilmember 651.771.3670 kathleen.juenemann@ci.maplewood.mn.us Rebecca Cave: Councilmember 651.773.7059 rebecca.cave@ci.maplewood.mn.us Robert Cardinal: Councilmember 651.765.8600 bob.cardinal@ci.maplewood.mn.us Marvin Koppen: Councilmember 651.770.5391 marvin.koppen@ci.maplewood.mn.us Jim Antonen: City Manager 651.249.2050 jim.antonen@ci.maplewood.mn.us City of Maplewood 3 May 2013 - Our Family Serving You Since 1942 - Sandberg Funeral & Cremation Service 2593 East 7th St., North St. Paul (651) 777-2600 www.sandbergfuneralhome.com Offering Advanced Planning Take control and be prepared. Maplewood Senior Expo- continued from cover page 10:15AM uNdERSTANdING CATARACT ANd OPTIONS WhEN PuRSuING SuRGERy PRESENTED BY EYE CARE CENTERS With increased options for patients undergoing cataract surgery it is important to have a good understanding about what is available. This course will provide an overview of what a cataract is, factors in cataract development, as well as the many choices for lens implant options when the cataract is removed. It is appropriate to be educated on these options prior to surgery to achieve the desired and expected outcome. 11:15PM AFTERLIFE PLANNING PRESENTED BY SANDBERG FUNERAL HOME Why prearrange your funeral? How much is the cost ofcremation? Will I get a Social Security or Veteran’s benefit? Who do I call when my loved one dies? Can I have my ashes scattered? Do I have to have a vault? Get the answers to all of your afterlife planning questions and more! 12:15PM TAKE STEPS TO PREVENT FALLS PRESENTED BY CERENITY SENIOR CARE For seniors, a fear of falling is very understandable. Falls can cause moderate to severe injuries, and each year, one in every three adults age 65 and older falls. Susan will discuss the importance of physical activity in fall prevention, exercises to improve balance, and changes to make inside and outside your home to help prevent falls. Balance testing will be available. 1:15PM yOuR ESTATE- 3 ThINGS yOu MuST KNOW PRESENTED BY THRIVENT FINANCIAL You may think the word “estate” doesn’t apply to you. But if you own a home, have a retirement account, or even a savings account, you have an estate. And, the fact is, decisions you make now can affect your ability to protect your property and assets, your loved ones and your wishes for them in the future. In just 45 minutes, we can help you understand the three essential elements of any good estate strategy. Join us for this important workshop! No registration required. Call 651.249.2230 for more information. Spring Gardening After what seems like a very long winter, spring is finally here. That means many of you are gearing up to plant your favorite flowers, vegetables, and herbs. To inspire and give you ideas, your neighborhood Home Depot has a lot to offer for your garden and yard needs. The garden center has a large variety of vegetable plants including tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers. They also offer a great selection of trees to make any yard look great including various fruit trees, flowering trees, and different breeds of oaks, maples and many more. If you’re looking to start a garden or improve an already existing one, Home Depot has a selection of hundreds of different seeds and flower bulbs. Plus, with their seemingly unlimited assortment of perennials and annuals, you can build the garden of your dreams. You can sign up for The Garden Club and save up to $300 with coupon offers. All summer long, Home Depot offers kid’s workshops and many do-it-yourself clinics for various gardening tips. The associates have all the knowledge to help you through any project. FREE Workshops: Register at www.homedepot.com or call 651.770.9600 Inspired by Pinterest: Succulent Gardens Thursday, May 16, 6:30 - 8:00PM • Learn about the benefits of container gardening • Identify and select succulents to create a garden • Learn to plant a succulent garden • Understand how to provide care for the garden Workshops For Children Ages 5-12 Offered The 1st Saturday of Each Month 9:00AM - Noon • All kids get to keep their craft and receive a FREE Kids Workshop Apron, commemorative pin and certificate of achievement. Dads, bring your child in to plant a Mother’s Day plant for Mom (date TBD - look online or call for details). Council Cor n e r City of Maplewood 4 May 2013 The Council Corner is a space that is rotated monthly between the Mayor and Council members. Editorial views expressed are those of the author and may not necessarily represent or reflect the views and opinions of the City of Maplewood. Councilmembers Cave and Cardinal, Mayor Rossbach, Councilmembers Koppen and Juenemann Dear Resident By Councilmember Bob Cardinal I will be touching on a number of topics in this month’s council corner message, namely; police, schools, water, art, trails, cable service, etc. How did we get here? National Police Week National Police week will be Sunday, May 12ht thru Saturday, May 18th. In 1962, President Kennedy proclaimed May 15th as National Police Officers Memorial Day and the calendar week in which May 15th falls as National Police Week. National Police Week pays special recognition to those law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty in the safety and protection of others. I am asking you to remember Joseph Bergeron who gave his life on May 1, 2010, the first and only causality of the Maplewood Police Department. “It is not how t h e s e o f fi c e r s d i e d t h a t m a d e t h e m h e r o e s , i t i s h o w t h e y l i v e d . ” Student Enrollment Numbers North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale ISd 622 1. Maplewood resident K-12 student enrollment in district 622 programs: 3459 2. Maplewood resident K-12 student enrollment in other districts: 829 (this includes students placed by district 622 in other districts’ programs and 622’s partner schools) 3. Maplewood resident K-12 students home schooled: 50. 4. We won’t have accurate data about this year (2012-2013) until the Fall of 2013. We are always a year after the fact. Roseville Schools ISd 623 Breakdown of Maplewood students attending Roseville Schools in ISD 623: 3-K Full Day; 11-1st grade; 2-2nd grade; 6-3rd grade; 10-4th grade; 6-5th grade; 5-6th grade; 8-7th grade; 8-8th grade; 5-9th grade; 5-10th grade; 8-1th grade; 24-12th grade. The number of Maplewood students in ISD 623 who are home schooled: 7. Water usage Several years ago I was fortunate to serve on the St. Paul Water Utility Board and learned how important water is to our lives. Did you know -- brushing your teeth takes 4 gallons of water; washing your hands and face uses 4 gallons of water; flushing the toilet takes 5 gallons of water; taking a bath uses 36 gallons of water; running the dishwater uses 15 gallons of water; taking a shower takes 25 gallons of water; washing a load of laundry uses 45 gallons of water; and watering our lawns uses so many gallons I don’t want to mention how many. This is not suggesting imperfection, lack of self control or poor cognitive skills. These short comings are often cited as grounds for government intervention. There must be very compelling reasons for a change with significant magnitude to justify such a consuming effort. As we all know, the whole purpose of authority is to interfere in other people’s business. Public Art In Maplewood Public art can be defined in many ways which I will leave to your imagination. We can look forward to a discussion of public art in Maplewood whether it be shown and showcased in the park next to the Maplewood Library, at our community center and city campus, at the Bruentrup Farm and open space or somewhere else. This initiative can be fostered all with the help of 3M. Maybe 3M, being a global company and its employees can help by contributing art from all over the world. Certainly some Maplewood treasures will be brought to light and be exhibit worthy. Gateway Trail I would like to bring it to your attention that the Gateway State Trail running through Maplewood is the most heavily traveled and used trail in the state. Starting from close to the Cayuga Bridge (I-35E) near the state Capitol to rural Washington County north of Stillwater, we should be aware of this trail’s importance for all of us in Maplewood and how many people pass through our city by walking, bicycling or jogging. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Trails have conducted user hour counts and user intensity per mile information for most of our major “rail trails” in recent years. The Gateway State Trail has the most use in user hours and is the most intensively used (user hours/mile) of any State Trail surveyed. This activity could go on any summer check off list. 952.474.8058 952.474.8058 952.474.8058 ••• TwinCitiesCruises.comTwinCitiesCruises.comTwinCitiesCruises.com Lake and River CruisesLake and River CruisesLake and River Cruises Purchase Tickets Online & Save $2! Use “Code MW02” Public Cruises For Sightseeing • Happy Hour • Dinner • Brunch Private Charters For Wedding Events • Birthdays • And More! C a l l F o r C h a r t e r P r i c i n g ! City News City of Maplewood 5 May 2013 The Council Corner is a space that is rotated monthly between the Mayor and Council members. Editorial views expressed are those of the author and may not necessarily represent or reflect the views and opinions of the City of Maplewood. Dear Resident- continued from page 4 Maplewood Fire departMent Open House & Food Drive JuNE 1, 2013, 11AM TO 3PM Station 1 (Stillwater and Century Avenue) • Auto extrication demo • Fire extinguisher safety & demo • Sparky the fire dog jumper • Lakeville FD’s sprinkler trailer (live fire demo) We are asking for a non-perishable donation on behalf of the Salvation Army Food Shelf. For more information call 651.249.2800 or visit www.ci.maplewood.mn.us. MOTHER’S DAYMASSAGE SPECIAL $4 OFF A 1-HOUR MASSAGE GIFT CERTIFICATE 2100 White Bear Avenue • Maplewood, MN 55109 651.249.2230 • www.maplewoodcommunitycenter.com PURCHASE 1 MASSAGE PURCHASE 2 OR MORE $7 OFF EACH 1-HOUR MASSAGE GIFT CERTIFICATE OFFER VALID APRIL 15 - MAY 15, 2013 MAPLEWOOD COMMUNITY CENTER • Hands on CPR • Kid’s activities all afternoon • Truck tours • Hot dogs, snacks & prizes Ramsey Washington Suburban Cable Commission Maplewood is a part of our Ramsey Washington Suburban Cable Commission which started in 1984 and includes 12 surrounding communities of which Maplewood residents comprise over 25% of the subscribers for this franchise. To receive FREE Channel 16 and several other free channels, call Comcast Cable at 651.222.3333 and ask for Universal PEG service. Note- if the Comcast operator is not aware of this service, residents can call GTN/public access at 651.747.3801 to assist in setting up this service. You will be able to view all city council meetings and city commission meetings telecast from City Hall. Stay informed on city matters and maybe be amused and entertained as well. If you have a problem in getting connected please call me. Carbon Footprint We have been talking about reducing our “carbon footprint” in the hope of reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions, which may be fighting with our environment. The ultimate goal is to create as little environmental disturbance as possible during our lifespan so that we can leave a healthy earth to our children and survivors. Have a great summer. Enjoy the 4th of July- Independence Day celebration and fireworks at Hazelwood Park. Again, how did we get here? - Bob Cardinal, Councilmember 651.765.8600 P.S. Happy Mother’s Day to all of our Mothers. Police Department Life Saving Award In the early morning hours of January 29th Officer Brian Tauzell and Sergeant Michael Nye were summoned to a Maplewood home regarding a suicide attempt. The officers arrived to find an open garage door and a commotion within. They entered the garage and found a man hanging from the rafters, approximately two feet from the ground by a makeshift noose fashioned from metal electrical conduit. The caller was frantically, but in vain, trying to hold the man up. Officer Tauzell immediately lifted the man, relieving the constriction on his airway, while Sgt. Nye used the opportunity to untie the noose. The man, who had been flailing wildly, began to apologize for his decision. Without prompt & decisive action the man would likely have died. For their actions that morning Officer Tauzell and Sergeant Nye were presented the Maplewood Police Department Lifesaving Award during the March 25, 2013 Maplewood City Council meeting. Sergeant Michael Nye (left), Officer Brian Tauzell (center), Acting Chief Dave Kvam (right) City of Maplewood 6 May 2013 City News Maplewood’s Special Enforcement Unit Serves Many Purposes The Police Department’s Special Enforcement Unit (SEU) was formed to help address several problems within the City of Maplewood, areas of concern which benefit from a dedicated response. The primary responsibilities of SEU are: traffic enforcement, narcotics, prostitution/human trafficking, and problem properties/people. The unit is supervised by Sergeant Michael Dugas and consists of four officers, each with particular areas of specialty. One officer focuses on traffic enforcement, helping to address many of the driving complaints received by the police department. The traffic officer is also a certified commercial vehicle inspector, which allows him to help ensure the many commercial vehicles travelling through Maplewood are doing so in a safe manner. Another officer is assigned to the Ramsey County Violent Crime Enforcement Team (VCET), a countywide task force which investigates high-level narcotics & firearm violations. Sgt. Dugas and 2 other officers focus on local narcotics, prostitution/human trafficking, and problem locations or people. SEU officers work both in uniform and plainclothes, as needs dictate. Their hours are flexible and are dictated by the cases or incidents on which they are working. SEU works with the patrol division to provide additional personnel to saturate a problem location, for instance, and disseminates intelligence about crime trends and known criminals. They also work closely with investigative personnel, conducting surveillance, coordinating undercover operations, and otherwise assisting detectives to aid case resolution. Examples of recent work include: 1. A commercial vehicle inspection detail was coordinated, resulting in 47 trucks inspected, with 14 taken out of service due to the severity of the violations. 2. Our VCET officer has been working on a federal-level narcotics case involving several cities, including Maplewood. The case is still under investigation, however, has resulted in the execution of multiple search warrants. 3. An officer assisting city code enforcement to help alleviate ongoing complaints at a particular address discovered associated criminal activity, including possession of stolen property. The investigation is now being coordinated with other law enforcement agencies and felony-level charges are likely. 4. An operation targeting a prostitute who was soliciting business in Maplewood lead to an arrest for prostitution and 2 more for promoting prostitution. 5. Stemming from a traffic stop during an operation, approximately 57 grams of methamphetamine and more than $5,600 were seized. The person in possession of both was arrested for possession of a controlled substance. 6. An officer focusing on a local career criminal, working with retailers and after conducting extensive research, was able to obtain felony-level burglary charges on the man in a case which started as two misdemeanor violations of the trespass law and attempted theft. This case is one of the first of its type brought against a career criminal in Ramsey County. spring festival Presentation Church MAY 4 & 5Sat. 11:30am - 5pmSun.11:30am - 4pm Food Booths • Beer • Pull Tabs Book Booth • Silent Auction Grannie’s Attic • Theme Baskets Kiddie Land • Rides Raffle $6,000 in Cash Prizes! a Acapulco Restaurant Taco Dinner - Ala Carte Prices - SAT. 5 - 7:30PM Chicken Dinner - $7 half $9 fullSUN. 11:30AM - 4PM a a a NEW! Kittenball Tournament & Sat. Night Bingo 7:30 -10pm Great Door Prizes Stipe Shows Carnival Rides Fri. 6 - 10pm | Sat.11:30am - 10pm | Sun. 11:30am - 4pm www.presentationofmary.org • (651) 777-8116 Church of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 1725 Kennard St. in Maplewood Coupon Good For One FREE Soft Drink- Enjoy! City of Maplewood 7 May 2013 City News Welcome To Maplewood Tokyo Grill Tokyo Grill Express, a Japanese dine in and carry out restaurant, opened this March in Maplewood on White Bear Avenue at the Highway 36 exchange. Their food is a combination of Japanese and Asian flair and they offer a homemade Fire Cracker Sauce if you are looking for something with a bit more spice. The meat is the highest quality and cut fresh daily. They use mostly white meat and grass-fed beef for each entree. Their chef is a top-notch sushi and kitchen chef who can tailor the spice to each individual preference. They cook on a real flat grill which creates the perfect fried rice - not too dry and not too soft. Don’t forget to try the Cinnamon Fortune Rolls (similart to a fortune cookie) - where Tokyo Grill is the only place you can find them. This restaurant will not empty your pocket book. Entree prices range from $6.95 - $10.95 and there is a nice menu selection. Customer Anthony Scott says “If you like Asian food and you cannot afford Benihana, Tokyo Grill is the place for you! They are dedicated to their customers and they go the extra mile. I came in at 9:00AM and Lin the restaurant owner said that they were not open right now but I should come in and she will cook for me - it was great and I keep coming back for more!” Customer Lakari Cobb came all the way from Columbia Heights because she heard their food was really good and wanted to try the Fire Cracker Shrimp Sauce. She commented that “the atmosphere was very clean and welcoming.” They have made great efforts to create the tidiest and cleanest dining place, and guarantee you with friendly and timely service. To learn more about Tokyo Grill’s menu or for restaurant hours, visit their website at www.mntokyogrill.com. Restaurant owner Lin Hui (left) and Customer Lakari Cobb (right) Fire Cracker Chicken The City of Maplewood is conducting a logo contest for individuals of all ages. Our current logo (shown above) features a maple leaf with the motto, “Together We Can” and has been the logo since 1998. Entries will be judged by a team consisting of a representative from a local business, residents and city staff. The winning design will become the official logo of the city. Designs must incorporate a maple leaf and highlight some of the great attributes of our city. Entries will be judged on the artwork’s creative ideals that reflect those things that add up to the feeling that our community is a special place, distinct from anywhere else capturing the essence of Maplewood! The winner along with their created logo will be featured in a future article of the Maplewood Monthly and will also be awarded $100.00. For contest rules and submission requirements visit the City website at www.ci.maplewood.mn.us or by emailing karen.guilfoile@ci.maplewood.mn.us. CITY LoGo CoNTEST City of Maplewood 1830 County Road B East Maplewood, MN 55109 Phone: 651.249.2000 www.ci.maplewood.mn.us PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit #32324 Twin Cities, MN********ECRWSS** RESIdENTIAL CuSTOMER Upon request, this newsletter will be made available in an alternate format.Printed on 10% post consumer product. cccu.com UNLEASH YOUR POTENTIAL WITH CITY &COUNTY’S LEGENDARY LOW AUTO LOAN RATES2.49% MODEL YEARS 2010 & NEWER l NO PAYMENTS FOR 90 DAYS (651) 225-2700l800 223-2801 APR = Annual Percentage Rate. Interest rate may vary by model year, term, credit worthiness and is subject to change. Payment on a 60-month loan at 2.49% APR is $17.75 per $1,000 borrowed. Interest will accrue for the first 90 days without payment. RATES AS LOW AS APR How To Deal With Yard Waste Reminder - leaves and grass clippings should not be placed in the trash or deposited in your neighborhood natural areas. But don’t despair; there are three easy ways to deal with your yard waste: yard Waste Removal by the City’s Contracted hauler Allied Waste Services, the City’s trash and yard waste contractor, offers subscription yard waste service to City residents. Between April 1 and November 30 (weather permitting) Allied will remove your grass clippings, weeds, leaves, and small branches if you choose to subscribe to this service. Service includes a 65 gallon cart which will be picked up once a week on your trash and recycling day. Just place the yard waste in the cart, no need to bag. But if you do bag your yard waste, ensure you use a paper or compostable bag. The cost for the season is $79.50. Allied will also pick up yard waste on an on-call basis for $3.50 per paper or compostable bag. To sign up for subscription yard waste removal or inquire about on-call yard waste service, call Allied’s customer service team at 651.455.8634. Ramsey County Compost Sites Ramsey County residents can dispose of yard waste at one of Ramsey County’s seven yard waste sites for free. For more information visit www.ramseyatoz.com or call 651.633.EASY (3279) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Back yard Composting Maplewood’s solid waste ordinance allows for home composting of small quantities of lawn and garden waste, and kitchen food scraps. A compost pile or bin must be placed in the rear or side yard, be at least 5 feet from your property line, and not cause a nuisance to neighbors. To get started on back yard composting this year, consider attending the Maplewood Nature Center’s composting class: Composting – Make Your Own Black Gold! The class is free and is scheduled for Saturday, May 18, from 10:00 to 11:00AM at the Nature Center (2659 7th Street East). To register call the Nature Center at 651.249.2170. SHLANDPRODUCTIONS Performance for a Lifetime www.ashlandproductions.org 651-274-8020 Registration now open! See our website for details. Summer Theater Camp