April-June 2022 Newsletter |
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Climate Action Plan Updatefor the City of Stillwater Sustainable Stillwater MN is 100% committed to a climate action plan for the City of Stillwater that will guide future efforts to curb greenhouse gases and protect people from climate impacts. In December 2021, SSMN went before the City Council and urged councilors to support funding for a full Climate Action Plan with a baseline study of our carbon footprint and our climate change vulnerabilities. The Mayor and Council offered to consider this project in the 2023 work plan and budget instead. Although we have no guarantees that this will succeed, we're moving ahead with presentations, editorials, and blogs to explain the urgent need for a climate action plan -- essentially a blueprint that will guide the city's decision-making on all future projects. Assuring commitment now to adapt and mitigate the effects of a hotter, wetter climate will pay off down the road for taxpayers and businesses. City Community Development Director Tim Gladhill is acting on the remaining goals for the city to achieve GreenStep Cities Level Three. But we seek assurance that a climate action plan next year is the highest priority for all. Stillwater lags behind more than 45 other Minnesota cities that have created climate action plans and have even begun reducing their carbon output. See those plans at https://www.100percentmn.org/city-climate-action-plans You can help! Call or email your city councilor and tell them you support a climate action plan for Stillwater. Find your representative here: https://www.ci.stillwater.mn.us/city-government/mayor-council |
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Happy Birthday to Us! Sustainable Stillwater MN is celebrating its third birthday on EARTH DAY! You are invited to our celebration Friday, April 22 from 4 - 6 pm outdoors under the shelter at Washington Square Park in Stillwater. Have cake and coffee! You can also see all our projects underway this year, sign up to help, or give a gift of support! Most of all, we want to thank you for giving your time, talents, and resources to making Stillwater a model of urban stewardship. Birthday gifts are accepted at https://www.givemn.org/story/Ssmn-3rd-Birthday Rain location: Huelings Room at Lakeview Hospital |
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Lights Out Stillwater! We all treasure the magnificent flocks of incoming birds, pelicans, ducks, and geese as our avian friends return to the north at this time of year. Join us with "Lights Out" -- a program that includes dimming, shielding, or eliminating excess lighting. These voluntary measures have been adopted by many cities nationwide and can dramatically reduce these collisions. Midnight until dawn: Some examples are: Turn off exterior lighting (leave security lights on as needed for safety) Dim lobby and atrium lighting Turn off interior lighting - especially on upper floors
We want to track how many people in our area will participate. To show your participation, click on the following link: https://mn.audubon.org/conservation/lights-out-program |
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Service Award Presented to Sustainable Stillwater MN The Stillwater City Council presented SSMN with a certificate of appreciation on February 16. Mayor Ted Kozlowski and council members cited our Natural Resources team who helped recruit 45 rain garden adopters, 218 storm drain adopters, installed cigarette disposal canisters downtown, and weeded and cleaned Lily Lake's shoreline. Also recognized was the Bike-Friendly Community group and the Green Business Directory at GreenStillwater.org for outstanding service in support of the City's mission. Seen here (l to r) is MayorKozlowski, Roger Tomten, Nancy Lyner, Linda Countryman, and Kelsey Depew. |
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| | SSMN Seeking Summer Intern
We are seeking a college intern for a paid position assisting us with research, writing, and coordinating presentations and events from May through September. Applicants should have an interest in the environment. Good research and communication skills are a must. | | |
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| | Green Business Writer Self-starting blogger/ journalist/ writer/ influencer needed to create fun, sustainability stories for the Green Business Directory and our partners' programs, like BizRecycling. Stories will be posted on our social media and websites. Lots of flexibility in this position. | | |
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| | April 21: 7PM Online Support Solar On Our Schools | | |
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| | April 22: 4PM Washington Park SSMN Birthday Celebration | | |
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| | April 23: 2PM Lily Lake Park CCU: April Trash Dash | | |
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| | May 1st-7th Brown's Creek Trail What's That Plant? Event | | |
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| | May 5: 3:30PM Online SSMN's Board of Director's Meeting | | |
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| | May 7: 10AM Pine Point Park Tree Planting with Washington Co. | | |
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| | May 10: 7PM Online Landscaping for Birds and People | | |
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| | May 12: 4PM Martha & Pine Rain Garden Management WS | | |
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SSMN & Green Business Directory Podcasts with Get Out And Try Get Out and Try, a podcast for finding out the latest exciting things in the Valley, is featuring us on April 20 and 27. Kelsey Depew, SSMN Secretary and Green Business Directory Membership Manager, and Wendy Gorski, project lead, will have the scoop on Sustainable Stillwater's many initiatives, including the Green Business Directory. |
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Recent Articles Written by SSMN for the Stillwater Gazette |
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| | What is the “Dirt” on Regenerative Agriculture? | | |
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| | The Power of Tree Huggers | | |
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| | Addressing the Climate Crisis – It’s Now or Never | | |
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SSMN's Bird City Team Helps HealthPartners Set Up Bluebird Houses Bluebirds will find hospitality this year at the HealthPartners Stillwater Clinic (previously Curve Crest Clinic), thanks to the initiative of Eric Siskow, facilities manager, and the SSMN Bird City Team. Allison McGinnis and Janet Kortuem are consulting on bluebird houses that will be located in the clinic's native plant landscaped areas. |
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Tropical Wings Grant for Lily Lake Birds Sustainable Stillwater MN's Bird City team has won a $1000 grant from Tropical Wings to use for bird habitat restoration at Lily Lake Park in Stillwater. The grant will cover the purchase of native plants, shrubs, and trees to be installed by our Bird City and Lily Lake volunteers. May 13 - Tropical Wings' Migratory Bird Day at the Phipps Center in Hudson - Join us on May 13 from 6 – 8 p.m. We'll have a table at this event, sponsored by Tropical Wings. For more information see https://thephipps.org/galleries-exhibition/upcoming-galleries-exhibitions/ If you can help, please contact Allison Mcginnis at Allison@SustainableStillwaterMN.org and FItzie Heimdahl at heimdahlf@gmail.com. |
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Our Goals for this decade- Convert to renewable energy
- Make buildings more efficient
- Turn cities like Stillwater green and clean
- Rev up electric vehicles – and walk or bike the rest of the way
- Sink carbon back into the land through regenerative agriculture, tree planting
- Invest in a fairer world.
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Board of Directors Meetings Our Board of Directors' virtual online Zoom meetings take place every first Thursday of the month from 6.30-8.00 pm and are open to the public. For updated details or to get on the agenda contact Roger Tomten, chair, at roger@sustainablestillwatermn.org
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Our main email address is:
info@sustainablestillwatermn.org
Our Mailing address is:
Sustainable Stillwater MN
5865 Neal Ave N, #152
Stillwater MN 55082
The SSMN Newsletter is a quarterly publication. The editors are Wendy Gorski and Kelsey Depew. Email them directly at info@sustainablestillwatermn.org Copyright © 2022 Sustainable Stillwater MN. All rights reserved. |
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