BlaineMN.gov
CityConnect JAN UARY/ F E BR UARY 20 19
What’s Inside 2018 Heroes and Helpers, Blaine Super Target Photo Credit Alicia Marie Photography
Meet Your New Councilmembers.....................................................3
Blaine PD Makes Holidays Brighter for Students On Tuesday, December 11, 2018 the Blaine Police Department along with Target, SBM Fire Department, Minnesota State Patrol, Anoka County Sheriff’s Office, Lexington Fire Department, Lino Lakes Department of Public Safety, Centennial Lakes Police Department and Allina Emergency Medical Services, conducted its ninth annual Heroes and Helpers Event. The program is organized by the Blaine Police Department with help from the Anoka-Hennepin, Spring Lake Park and Centennial School Districts, and their respective social workers. The social workers from each school select students they know could use a little extra help and would benefit most from this event.
Blaine Police Introduces CommunityConnect...............................................6
Each student was paired with a Hero, a police officer, a firefighter, a sheriff deputy, a state trooper or an emergency medical services worker. The Hero picked the student up at their school and transported them in their respective emergency vehicle to Target. Once at Target, the Hero helped the student shop for his or her family with a donated $125 gift card. After shopping, the Hero and the student wrapped their presents, took photos in the photo booth and then the Hero brought the student home. Heroes and Helpers was a huge success again this year due to strong partnerships. Event sponsors include Target, the Blaine Festival, the Blaine Police Federation, Petco and other private community members.
2019 Winter/Spring Recreaction Connection......................................8
In nine years, the program has doubled in size, from 30 students to 60 students and is believed to be the largest Heroes and Helpers event in the Twin Cities.
City of Blaine 10801 Town Square Drive NE Blaine MN 55449
POSTMASTER: TIME SENSITIVE MAIL
DATED MATERIAL PREPARED BY THE OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
ECRWSS
POSTAL CUSTOMER
PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID TWIN CITIES, MN Permit No. 29418
To see hundreds of photos from the event, visit BlaineMN.gov/2018HHPhotos. For more information about the event, visit BlaineMN.gov/HeroesandHelpers.
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BlaineMN.gov - CityConnect
Upcoming Meetings
Recycling Calendar January s
Blaine City Hall
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Communications@BlaineMN.gov
City Council MAYOR Tom Ryan 12147 Radisson Road NE Blaine, MN 55449 763-757-3390 TRyan@BlaineMN.gov
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10801 Town Square Drive NE Blaine, MN 55449 763-784-6700
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WARD 1 Wes Hovland 8650 Van Buren Street NE Blaine, MN 55434 763-228-1117 WHovland@BlaineMN.gov Dick Swanson 926 - 97th Lane NE Blaine, MN 55434 763-370-2557 DSwanson@BlaineMN.gov
WARD 2 Julie Jeppson 1702 - 116th Avenue NE Blaine, MN 55449 763-354-4709 JJeppson@BlaineMN.gov Jess Robertson 4175 - 114th Lane NE Blaine, MN 55449 612-964-0503 JRobertson@BlaineMN.gov
WARD 3 Andrew Garvais 12744 Petersburg Street NE Blaine, MN 55449 612-229-8890 AGarvais@BlaineMN.gov Richard Paul 1560 - 123rd Lane NE Blaine, MN 55449 763-390-1499 RPaul@BlaineMN.gov
CITY MANAGER Clark Arneson 763-785-6120 CArneson@BlaineMN.gov
Holiday
Zone A
Zone B
For more information, visit WaltersRecycling.com or call 763-780-8464.
City Directory
City Council* January 3 | January 17 February 7 | February 21 7:30PM | City Hall Council Chambers City Council Workshops January 3 | January 10 | January 17 February 7 | February 14 | February 21 6:30PM | City Hall Cloverleaf Farms Room Arts Council January 8 | February 12 5:30PM | City Hall Lunch Room Historical Society February 12 6:30PM | City Hall Sanctuary Room Natural Resources Conservation Board* January 15 | February 19 7PM | City Hall Council Chambers Planning Commission* January 8 | February 12 7PM | City Hall Council Chambers Park Board* January 22 | February 26 7PM | City Hall Council Chambers Traffic Commission* February 6 6:30PM | City Hall Council Chambers *Meetings can be seen live on cable channel 16.
Stay Connected
Police & Fire................................................. 911 Police (non-emergency) ... 763-785-6168 Fire (non-emergency)........ 763-786-4436 Anoka County Dispatch..... 763-427-1212 Building Inspections.......... 763-785-6170 City Cable Channel 16 ...... 763-785-6192 City Clerk ............................ 763-785-6122 City Hall............................... 763-784-6700 City Manager...................... 763-785-6120 Communications................ 763-785-6181 Community Standards...... 763-785-6187 Community Outreach........ 763-785-6113 Economic Development.... 763-785-6180 Engineering......................... 763-785-6172 Fire Inspections ................. 763-785-6187 Forestry .............................. 763-717-2660 Housing Services ............... 763-785-6146 Human Resources ............ 763-785-6109 Job Line . ............................. 763-717-2679 Newsletter.......................... 763-785-6192 North Metro TV.................. 763-780-8241 Parks & Recreation ........... 763-785-6164 Planning & Zoning ............ 763-785-6180 Public Works....................... 763-785-6165 Recycling & Solid Waste ... 763-785-6192 Senior Citizens Center ...... 763-786-9375 Sewer Backup..................... 763-785-6165 Streets ................................ 763-785-6165 Stormwater......................... 763-785-6188 Utility Billing . ..................... 763-785-6141 Water & Sewer System ..... 763-785-6165 Web...................................... 763-717-2638
Receive Emergency Communications BlaineMN.gov/CivicReady
NotifyMeÂŽ Connect with your community and sign up for topics that interest you BlaineMN.gov/NotifyMe
BlaineMN.gov/CommunityConnect CityConnect is published bimonthly by the City of Blaine and distributed to all residents and businesses. Past copies of the city newsletter are available at BlaineMN.gov/Newsletter.
January/February 2019
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Meet Councilmember Jess Robertson Ward 2 Jess Robertson is a 20 year resident of Blaine and is married with three children. In addition to running a family business in the north metro, she is very active in the business community. Over the last decade, she has been involved in the Metro North Chamber of Commerce and various organizations throughout Anoka County. With a firm belief that local government should be accessible to everyone, Jess is looking forward
to being an advocate for the City of Blaine: its residents, business and our community. Jess believes in leading a life of service, the opportunity to serve as the new ward two councilmember gives her a new venue to be a strong voice for the residents, and businesses in Blaine while helping the city prepare for the future.
Meet Councilmember Richard Paul Ward 3
Mayor Tom Ryan’s Office Hours at City Hall
Richard Paul immigrated to the United States in 1995. Richard fled from his war-torn home country of South Sudan to Kenya before immigrating to the United States.
Richard has focused on building trust between immigrant groups and government organizations. He sees being on the city council as a new way to build community.
Richard came to Minnesota and eventually settled with his wife and six children in Blaine in 2004. Throughout his life, Richard has worked to build bridges between different parts of his community. Since relocating to Minnesota
Richard has taken many trainings and completed several educational courses to help him prepare for his new role as ward three councilmember. Richard looks forward to serving the community in this new way.
Blaine Mayor, Tom Ryan, holds regular office hours every Tuesday from 2:30 to 5:30PM. Stop by Blaine City Hall at 10801 Town Square Drive NE and meet with Mayor Ryan on any issue you want.
Office visists with Mayor Ryan are held in the Laddie Lake Conference Room located on the 2nd floor of Blaine City Hall, on the west side of the building.
There is no need to call and make an appointment; visits are done on a drop-in basis.
City Manager, Clark Arneson Announces Retirement Long time Blaine City Manager Clark Arneson has announced his intent to retire as Blaine’s City Manager on July 31, 2019, giving the City Council seven months to hire a new City Manager. The City Council initiated the search process for a new city manager in December.
reduce the budget by $2,000,000 over the next two years while retaining Blaine’s high level of service.
Mr. Arneson’s retirement from Blaine will cap a 40-year public service career. Arneson began his career working in community development in Bemidji and then Staples. From there he went to the City of Chaska as the Community Development Director and Assistant Administrator. He then went to the City of Bloomington where he became the Planning and Economic Development Director and eventually the Assistant City Manager. While at Bloomington, Arneson was the point person for the City during the development of the Mall Of America. Arneson was hired as the City Manager for Blaine in January of 2008.
• The development of the pavement management program which provides the funding that allows the City to do long term planning for road repair and reconstruction projects.
Arneson started his career with Blaine at the same time as the economic downturn and was faced with the challenge of navigating the growing City through tough economic times. Through Arneson’s leadership the City was able to reduce staffing by 17 positions and
Some of the things that Arneson is most proud of in his career at Blaine are:
• The continued modernization of the Police Department with staffing and technology. • Modernization of community notification and engagement opportunities through social media platforms and additional technology. • Continued improvement in the City’s bond rating with sound financial management as the City continues to work toward achieving a AAA rating. • Professional staff training and development opportunities helping Blaine to become a “best in class” city.
According to Arneson, “Blaine is very well positioned for the future as it continues to grow from 66,000 to eventually 85,000 residents. It is well on its way to becoming an economic powerhouse in the north metro area.”
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BlaineMN.gov - CityConnect
Let it Snow
8th Grade Honors Spanish Science, Westwood Middle School
While shoveling, the city would like to remind residents that according to city ordinance residents are not allowed to to throw snow onto neighboring properties, the street, a sidewalk or the boulevard. The city’s snow and ice policy is available online at BlaineMN.gov/SnowIcePolicy
The Story Behind All the Ponds Recently, city staff presented to the 8th grade honors Spanish science class at Westwood Middle School. During the presentation, the students took a water trivia quiz and were stumped to find out that there is only one natural lake in the City of Blaine, Laddie Lake. Many developments have large ponds that were excavated below the peat to find sand, which was then hauled to the surface to create building pads for homes. This was done to have stable ground for homes to sit on and prevent properties from flooding. These ponds were also designed to capture the rainwater (stormwater runoff) that runs over hard surfaces such as parking lots, roads and buildings. These ponds are not designed to be like a natural lake. Inviting as they look, storm water ponds can also pose hazards including strong currents during storm events, steep side slopes and drop-offs, unsafe winter ice and contaminated water and sediment.
Please Keep Fire Hydrants Clear The SBM Fire Department and the Blaine Public Works Department are asking for your help. Please remember to shovel around fire hydrants after each snowfall. It is very important for residents and businesses people to keep hydrants clear of snow and visible from the street. If the fire department has to spend time trying to find a fire hydrant under the snow, they lose precious time needed to fight fires. Please help keep your fire hydrants clear of snow. The house you help save may be your own.
The daily activities of people cause pollutants to collect on impermeable surfaces, these pollutants include dirt, oil, fertilizers, yard waste, litter and salt. With stormwater ponds in place, rainwater can collect, sediment and pollutants can settle to the bottom of the pond, before being released back into the watershed. City ordinance addresses alterations to and uses of public and private stormwater ponds: 1. The city discourages recreational activities such as boating, swimming, fishing, and skating on storm water ponds. 2. No alterations to shorelines or vegetation around stormwater ponds is allowed without authorization from the city and in some cases the watershed district. 3. Structures are not allowed within the stormwater pond or protective buffer zone. These include but are not limited to retaining walls, docks, piers, diving platforms, bridges, etc. 4. Fountains or other circulating devices are not allowed without a permit from the city. 5. Dumping of yard waste materials in, on or around any stormwater pond is prohibited. Cattails growing in and around stormwater ponds may be cut with permission and direction from the city. The pollutants being collected by the ponds can be potentially harmful to people and local wildlife. The city inspects the stormwater ponds on a five-year rotating basis to ensure that they are operating properly. Here are some tips to make sure these stormwater ponds continue to function properly: • • • • • •
Keep litter, yard waste and pet waste out of drainage ditches and storm drains. Pesticides and fertilizers need to be used and disposed of properly; one of the main contributors to algae blooms in stormwater ponds is excess nutrients from fertilizers. Properly dispose of oil and antifreeze. Never hose off your driveway, sidewalk or other impermeable surfaces. Use a carwash rather than washing your car at home to prevent the soap from going into the storm sewer and eventually into the stormwater ponds. Plant grasses and other plants over exposed areas to reduce erosion and leave natural vegetation around your pond.
Stormwater Pond Safety Snow Plow Map Have you ever wondered who plows your street or the roads you drive on every day? In the City of Blaine, there are private roads, city roads, county roads, and state roads. There are over 600 lane miles of streets in Blaine, plus 95 miles of sidewalks and 60 miles of maintained trails. To find out who is responsible for plowing your roads visit BlaineMN.gov/SnowPlow.
Stormwater ponds are potentially dangerous with unknown ice conditions for recreational activities like ice skating and hockey. Please help us keep your family safe this winter by explaining to your children that is extremely important to keep off this ice.
Why is stormwater pond ice unsafe?
Stormwater ponds have a constant flow of water, which causes ice to form in unstable conditions over the winter months. These unpredictable and fluctuating water levels create an environment in which the water may not freeze completely solid, therefore all unmonitored stormwater ponds are unsafe for skating.
If they can’t be used for recreation, what’s the point of stormwater ponds?
Though they may look like great recreation areas, stormwater ponds serve an important function in the City of Blaine’s stormwater management system. A stormwater pond has two main purposes. The first is for residential flood protection. The second is for treating urban water run off before it flows back into natural creeks and rivers. For more information on safe skating locations, visit BlaineMN.gov/SkatingRinks. Enjoy your time outside safely this winter.
January/February 2019
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Christmas Tree Collection Schedule Walters will be collecting Christmas trees during the first two FULL weeks of 2019 for all singlefamily homes.
BLAINE RECYCLING SATURDAYS 10:00am — 2:00pm
Trees will be collected on the DAY AFTER garbage and recycling collection. Please remember, you must remove all ornaments, wire, lights, garland, wraps, etc., for the tree to be collected.
3rd Saturday of Each Month Drop-Off Location Green Lights Recycling Enter at 1525 - 99th Lane NE
Residents of apartments and manufactured housing parks should check with your management office to find out your collection schedule.
The City of Blaine sponsors a recycling drop-off day the third Saturday of each month. You do not need to be a Blaine resident to bring items to the drop-off day. Please note, no garbage will be accepted. Recycling drop-off day is funded by the Anoka County Board of Commissioners and State SCORE funds (Select Committee on Recycling and the Environment).
Public Works Needs Your Help
Please Don’t Obstruct the Street with Trash Carts and Basketball Hoops Trash carts and basketball hoops are common things to see in the street at various times. However, placing these things on the curb or pavement is actually against the city’s right of way management ordinance because they significantly impact both the traveling public and municipal operations such as plowing and street sweeping.
Green Lights Recycling
763-785-0456 | GLRNow.com
Collects mattresses, box springs, carpet, appliances, florescent lamps, electronics, rechargeable batteries, and tires. Free items include scrap metal and vehicle batteries. There is a small fee for some items: • Mattresses/box springs are $20 each. • Most appliances are $10 each. • Most electronics are between $2 and $50 depending on size. • Carpet - $6/ roll (up to 7 rolls). Drop off tires and rechargeable batteries for a small fee. See the complete list of fees at BlaineMN.gov/ RecyclingSaturdays
The proper placement is simple but extremely important for efficient operations. Trash carts may not be placed on the street surfaces. Trash carts should be placed in the cleared driveway area or an area of the boulevard cleared to allow for their placement up to two feet behind the curb when waiting for pickup. This allows snowplow and sweeping crews to clean the streets from curb to curb.
Announcing the City of Blaine
Arbor Day Tree Sale The City of Blaine needs your help to find caring homes for these vegetative vagabonds. Plant carefully, water occasionally, and groom (trim) once in a while and you will get a great addition to your home.
Benefits of adding a new tree to your yard:
• Produces about 260 pounds of oxygen each year. • Cleans 360 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere per year. • Provides food and habitat for wildlife. • Increases the value of your property. • Provides you with cool shade and fresh air.
How to reserve your tree:
• Order online at BlaineMN.gov/TreeReservations • Call Public Works at 763-785-6165 • Send an email to Trees@BlaineMN.gov
How to get your bare-root tree:
• Tree pick up will be held on Saturday, May 11 from 9AM – 1PM at the Blaine Public Works facility, 1801 101st Avenue NE.
Randy’s Environmental Services | 763-972-3335
Types of trees available: • • • • • • • • - - -
8’ Sugar Maple - $39 8’ Autumn Blaze Maple - $40 6’ clump River Birch - $30 6’ clump Redbud - $44 6’ Sunburst Honeylocust - $37 6’ Weeping Willow - $26 6’ clump Japanese Tree Lilac - $42 4’ Boulevard Linden - $28 4’ Accolade Elm - $25 9/16 diameter Haralred Apple - $21 9/16 diameter Honeycrisp Apple - $20
Restrictions:
• You must be a Blaine resident. • Each residence is limited to two trees per year.
BlaineMN.gov/TreeSale
RandysEnvironmentalServices.com
Randy’s offers free paper shredding. Please note, there may be long wait times for shredding.
No Bike Collection (Dec-Mar) Bikes4KidsMN.org
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Bikes for Kids will not be collecting bikes at the monthly recycling drop-off day until April 2019.
Walters Recycling & Refuse 763-780-8464 | WaltersRecyling.com/Baine
Contact Walters to report missed garbage, recycling or yardwaste pick-up.
City Recycling Information
763-785-6192 | BlaineMN.gov/Recycle
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BlaineMN.gov - CityConnect
Blaine’s Camera Registration Program How does it work? The Blaine Police Department wants to partner with residents and business owners who have video surveillance on the exterior of their homes or business. You might have a multi-camera system or a simple doorbell camera at your front door. No mater your level of surveillance your participation in this program will help the police department in the event of a crime in your area.
How do I participate? If you choose to participate, start by registering your camera system with the police department at blainemn. gov/camera. Participation is voluntary and you can end your participation at any time. Your information will be kept confidential, secure, and only accessible to police personnel. If a crime occurs in your area, officers and/or detectives may contact you to ask if you have footage of the incident. The Blaine Police Department will not have a direct link or connection to any private alarm or camera system.
Why should I participate? The primary goal is to include residents and businesses and give them an opportunity to assist the Blaine Police Department in deterring crime, catching criminals and promoting public safety. By sharing your security footage with us, you may help us in catching a criminal quicker. As a part of the CommunityConnect program, we will provide you with a window sticker that identifies you as a camera registration member.
Blaine Police Department Introduces CommunityConnect a Crime Prevention Partnership The Blaine Police Department is excited to introduce CommunityConnect a new program focused on crime prevention and community building. The CommunityConnect program gives residents of Blaine a way to join with their neighbors to make our community a safer place to live, work and play. CommunityConnect is made up of six initiatives: crime mapping, camera registration, social media, Night to Unite, email updates and security surveys. CommunityConnect is a modernized version of the old neighborhood crime watch. The program is designed to connect the entire community instead of just pockets of neighborhoods. The program is a service of the community outreach unit of the Blaine Police Department. For more information about CommunityConnect, visit
BlaineMN.gov/ CommunityConnect
Registration is Easy Fill out the brief questionare regarding property information, camera locations, video storage format and frequency, and your camera specifications.
Crime Mapping
Email Updates
Camera Registration
BlaineMN.gov/ CrimeMap
BlaineMN.gov/ EmailUpdates
BlaineMN.gov/ Carmera
Night to Unite
Social Media
Security Survey
BlaineMN.gov/ N2U
BlaineMN.gov/ PDSocial
BlaineMN.gov/ Security
Once registred, you will receive a special CommunityConnect Camera Registration sticker. This will allow officers to quickly identify houses with registered cameras available. Help fight crime, register today.
BlaineMN.gov/Camera
January/February 2019
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OpenBlaine
Transparent | Community | Data Powered by
OpenGov Coming to Blaine In the first part of 2019, the City of Blaine will launch a new government transparency portal called OpenBlaine. Blaine is joining more than 2,000 other governmental entities around the country in using the OpenGov platform. OpenBlaine will allow the general public to easily dig in to city budget data as well as other non-financial data points collected by the city. You will be able to see the different revenue streams that fund city operations or the cost of capital improvements in the current year or even the amount of social media followers the city gained in the last year. City staff have been using the OpenGov platform internally to build the 2019 budget and have found the platform to be a great tool to clearly identify budget priorities and historical trends. Watch social media and the city website for more details about launch date for OpenBlaine.
City Council Adopts 2019 General Fund Budget and Tax Levy At their December 20 meeting, the Blaine City Council approved the city’s 2019 tax levy and general fund budget. The levy consists of: • • • •
$23,869,100 for general operations; $500,000 for the city’s pavement management program (PMP) $3,925,000 for debt service $300,000 for the parks and trails revitalization program
Additionally, the Council acting as the Economic Development Authority (EDA), adopted an EDA levy of $680,000 for a total citywide levy of $29,274,100. Blaine continues to be one of the lowest taxing full service cities in the Twin Cities metro area. At that same meeting, the Council also approved the 2019 general fund budget with revenues totaling $32,379,400 and expenditures totaling $32,298,475, providing a safe margin of $80,925. Highlights of the budget include: • • •
Enhanced median landscaping Addition of a Public Service Worker(Public Works) Continued modernization of Police Department technology and training The total citywide levy will drop the city’s tax rate to 36.700%. For a home valued at $200,000 in both 2018 and 2019, property taxes would decrease $2.66 in 2019.
2019 looks to be another good development year for Blaine as the City should continue to add property value through the construction of new homes and robust business development.
Sewer Backup? Contact Public Works Residents experiecing a sewer backup should immediately contact the City of Blaine Public Works Department. Public Works will check the sewer main for blockages, as tree roots in the line can cause backups for neighbors as well. Call 763-785-6165, during normal business hours from 7AM to 3PM, otherwise call 763-427-1212.
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BlaineParks.com or BlaineEvents.com - Recreation Connection
parks & recreation
connection 2019 Winter/Spring
Free for all ages!
Saturday, January 26, 1-4pm The Anoka County Parks and Recreation Department, in collaboration with the Lino Lakes and Blaine Parks and Recreation Departments, is thrilled to be offering the 19th annual Snow Day event. Participants of all ages will have a chance to partake in a variety of winter activities including: snowshoeing, ice fishing, kick sledding, cross-country skiing, fat tire biking, winter crafts, temporary tattoos, and live animal presentation. Refreshments provided. For more information, call Wargo Nature Center at 651-429-8007.
Winter/Spring 2019 Online Registration The 2019 Recreation Connection catalog is available to browse at BlaineParks.com/ RecreationConnection Online program registration is available at BlaineParks.com/Register.
Community Gardens Interested in gardening but live in an apartment or townhome? Perhaps your yard is too shady? Consider renting a community garden plot. The Blaine Community Garden is located adjacent to Blaine City Hall’s south parking lot and consists of 56 plots. The city will prepare the soil for planting, mark each pot, and provide water access. Plots are approximately 15 feet x 20 feet; half-plots are 15 feet x 10 feet; and raised beds are 4 feet x 8 feet. Plots will be ready for use in early May. One plot per house-hold. Registration forms are available online at Blaineparks.com and at Blaine City Hall.
The registration dates and priority for renting a garden plot will be as follows:
Stay Connected BlaineParks.com More information about Parks and Recreation is available at 763-7856164 or in the current Recreation Connection online.
Now - February 15
Returning gardeners from 2018 in good standing, requesting their same plot.
February 19 - 22
Returning gardeners requesting different plots.
February 25 - March 1
New resident gardeners.
March 4 - full
New non-resident gardeners.
REGULAR PLOTS (15X20)
HALF-PLOTS (limited number - 15x10)
Resident............................................................$68.57
Resident............................................................$42.85
Senior Resident (55+).................................$57.85
Senior Resident (55+).................................$32.14
Non-resident................................................. $80.34
Non-resident..................................................$53.56
RAISED BEDS (4X8) Resident.....................................................................$32.14 Senior Resident (55+)..........................................$21.43
BlaineEvents.com
Non-resident...........................................................$42.85 All rental fees include tax.
Winter/Spring 2019
Page 9
parks & recreation
connection 2019 Winter/Spring
Family Open Gym - Basketball Drop in open gym for kids ages 10 and under will be available on Sunday nights. Youth must have an adult to stay with them. Lowered baskets will be available, as well as some small portable hoops for toddlers. Bring a ball if you have one or we will have some available to use. Parents that come to supervise and not play will not be charged. Program held at Centennial Middle School (Lino Lakes). Sundays, December 2-March 3, 6-8pm (No open gym December 23 & 30) $5 Youth; $9 Family (Pay at the Door)
Skyhawks Basketball Camp ages 3 to 10
This fun, skill-intensive program is designed for the beginning player. Using our curriculum that is built on a progression, our staff focus on the whole player, teaching respect, teamwork and responsibility. An active camp involving passing, shooting, dribbling, and defense makes this one of our most popular programs. Participants should bring appropriate clothing, a water bottle, and gym shoes. Max 12. Program held at Centennial Elementary school. Saturdays, February 9-March 2 ages 3 to 4, $45 9-9:30AM OR 9:40-10:10am
ages 5 to 7, $65 1-2pm
ages 4 to 6, $65 10:20-11:20am OR 11:30AM-12:30pm
ages 8 to 10, $65 2:15-3:15pm
Community Outings All community outings depart from and return to the Mary Ann Young Senior Center unless noted otherwise and include motor-coach transportation. Times include pickup and return. Outings include lunch and ticket unless noted otherwise.
The Highwaymen
the Ames Center in Burnsville Perhaps the greatest country music super group in history, the Highwaymen: Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings, traveled the world performing country music to millions of fans. This music tribute show is full of upbeat, honky-tonk hits like “Ring of Fire,” “Dukes of Hazard,” and “On the Road Again.” We have reserved great seats on the main floor for the 2PM show. Please indicate your lunch choice at registration: fish and chips, chicken waldorf salad or pulled pork BBQ sandwich. Includes coffee, tea or soda. Sunday, January 20............................$67 12;30-5:30pm
MN Orchestra Concert and Lunch Orchestra Hall
Babysitting ages 11 & up
Beginning with the mysterious opening of Beethoven’s Fourth Piano Concerto and culminating with the heroic brass fanfare of Strauss’ tone poem, the Minnesota Orchestra illuminates the symphonic wizardry of these legendary composers. We’ll arrive at Orchestra Hall a bit early to enjoy complimentary coffee and a donut. The show runs from 11AM to approximately 1PM with an intermission. When the show is done we’ll hop on the bus for a very short ride for our lunch stop at Rock Bottom Brewery.
Learn to be responsible babysitters by examining safety guidelines, child development, finding jobs, rates and first aid. Hands-on experience with diapers and bottle-feeding are included. Participants receive a packet of materials and certificates are awarded to all students who successfully demonstrate the skills during the class. Bring a doll, lunch and beverage. Must turn age 11 by the date of the class. Max. 12. Class held at Blaine City Hall Cloverleaf Room A. Registration deadline is one week prior to class start date. Instructor: Joy Handt.
Thursday, February 7........................$78 9:15am-2:30pm
9-4pm, $80 RES; $88 NR Saturday, February 9 OR Saturday, March 30
Wednesday, February 13................... $7 8:45am-4:30pm
St. Croix Casino Turtle lake
Page 10 BlaineParks.com or BlaineEvents.com - Recreation Connection
QC Dance Classes
All classes held at QC Dance Studio, 9967 Ulysses Street, Blaine TO PROVIDE quality dance instruction and a variety of fun opportunities to learn and demonstrate dance skill while building self-esteem. TO ENCOURAGE academic excellence as well as other involvements that contribute to the development of a multi-talented, “well rounded” individual. TO OFFER class choices for all ages that promote a healthy lifestyle. Dance classes for ages 0 – 11! There is something for everyone! QC Dance also offers the following mini-camps for ages 3 to 7: Polar Bear Party, Jo Jo Bow Camp, Princess Academy, Tropical Adventure, Mighty Minis.
parks & recreation
connection 2019 Winter/Spring
For more detailed information on dates, times and fees, visit our website at BlaineParks.com/Register. or call the Parks and Recreation office at 763-785-6164.
Super Hero Party Come join us for our Super Hero Party! Your child can dress up like their favorite Super Hero and fly around and try activities which include: carnival games, crafts, face painting, tattoos, coloring sheets, all with our super hero theme! What kid won’t love this? We will also have a few super heroes walking around for pictures and a photo backdrop for some additional photos. Don’t forget your camera! Refreshments provided. Max. 150. Event held at Blaine City Hall. Register by February 12 or when spaces fill. Friday, March 1.................................................6:30 - 8PM $10 resident; $11 non-resident
Summer Employment Are you looking for that perfect summer job? If you have enthusiasm, energy, and excitement to work with kids, then this is the job for you! We offer great hours, competitive pay, excellent training and a fun work environment. Applicants must be 17 years of age or older. Applications will be available February 1 at the Blaine Parks and Recreation office or at BlaineParks.com. Application deadline is March 29. For more information visit BlaineParks.com or call 763-785-6164. Interviews will take place in early April.
Jam Hops Camps, Classes & Clinics All classes held at Jam Hops, 1460 - 133rd Lane NE, Ham Lake
Inspiring kids to become life champions! We will be offering Camptastic Day Camp, Gymnastic Classes, Ninja Zone Clinics, Ninja Zone Classes, Nerf Night, and Movie Night. For more detailed information on dates, times and fees, visit our website at BlaineParks.com/Register or call the Parks and Recreation office at 763-785-6164.
Guitar Lessons
All classes held at Blaine City Hall, Cloverleaf Room A Our lessons focus on having fun, learning and building skills. Students may repeat class until skills are acquired. Must have your own guitar (amplifier for electrics). Program is held at Blaine City Hall Cloverleaf Room A.
Intro to Guitar, ages 6 - 10 Saturdays, January 26 - March 2, 1-1:45pm
Beginning Guitar, ages 10 & up Saturdays, January 26 - March 2, 2-2:45pm
$60 resident; $66 non-resident
Stay Connected BlaineParks.com More information about Parks and Recreation is available at 763-7856164 or in the current Recreation Connection online.
BlaineEvents.com
For more information and to register, visit our website at BlaineParks.com/Register.
Tech Academy by Computer Explorers
Welcome to Tech Academy! Minnesota’s premier STEM camps and classes provider. We are an exciting learning environment specializing in Technology (STEM) Education for children and teens ages 4-15. Our camps are kid friendly, we promote hands-on learning experiences with time to experiment and to foster creativity. Camps include Robotics - Star Wars Droid Builder, Engineering - Crazy Gears & Wheels, and Java Minecraft Mod Development: Superhero Armor. For more detailed information on dates, times and fees, visit our website at BlaineParks.com/Register or call the Parks and Recreation office at 763-785-6164.
Winter/Spring 2019
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Melt Method - NEW!
All classes held at Body Sense Pilates and Wellness Studio, 10761University Avenue NE Reduce chronic pain and feel fantastic! The MELT Method is a simple self-treatment technique that is designed to reduce chronic pain and help you stay healthy, youthful and active for a lifetime. We will begin by using foam rollers and small treatment balls to stimulate the results of massage therapy allowing you to move into your deeper connective tissue. Reduce inflammation, ease chronic neck and low back strain, improve your alignment, rebalance your nervous system and reduce stress and tension keeping your whole body feeling great at any age. 8 week sessions, $100/session Tuesdays, March 5 - April 23, 8:15-9:15am Thursdays, March 7 - April 25, 9-10am Saturdays, March 9 - April 27, 10:15-11:15am
parks & recreation
connection 2019 Winter/Spring
Zumba/Zumba Gold
All classes held at QC Dance Studio, 9967 Ulysses Street, NE, Blaine Zumba fitness is for everyone, all shapes and sizes and just about any age. This class allows you to have fun while safely losing pounds and inches. With Zumba, the fun comes first, and the physical benefits follow. Zumba Gold is like a basic Zumba class with lower impact.
Zumba
Zumba Gold
Thursdays, January 10 - February 7, 8-8:45pm
Saturdays, January 9 - February 6, 7:45-8:30pm
$30 resident; $33 non-resident For more information and to register, visit our website at BlaineParks.com/Register.
Ballroom Dancing
All classes held at QC Dance Studio, 9967 Ulysses Street NE, Blaine We will cover five Ballroom Dances: Foxtrot, Waltz, Tango, Cha Cha and Rumba. We will focus on the basic steps and character of each dance, as well as some fun patterns and variations.
For more information and to register, visit our website at BlaineParks.com/Register.
all ages
Wednesday, January 30, 6-8pm $5/person
all ages
Mens, Womens and Co-Rec Teams Parks and Recreation offers Mens, Womens and Co-Rec summer softball leagues. Games are played at Aquatore Park. Registraiton begins February 4. Registration materials are available after January 1 from the Parks and Recreation office or online at BlaineParks. com. The leagues and days offered are listed below. Fees include softballs and tax. Online registration is available for adult softball at BlaineParks.com/Register. League play begins the week of April 22. For more information, visit our website at BlaineParks.com/Register or call 763-785-6161. # of Games Fee
The City of Blaine has partnered with Wargo Nature Center to offer you a variety of programs for families of all ages to experience our Wetland Sanctuary. All programs will meet in the parking lot of the Blaine Wetland Sanctuary located at 11980 Lexington Avenue. For more information, visit BlaineMN.gov/WetlandSanctuary.
Animal Tracking
Adult Softball
Day
at the Blaine Wetland Sanctuary
Snowshoeing
Saturdays, January 19 - February 23, 10-11am $45 resident; $49 non-resident
League
Environmental Programs
Saturday, February 9, 1-3pm $5/person $10/family (up to 5 people)
Winter Ecology all ages
Saturday, March 9, 1-3pm $5/person $10/family (up to 5 people)
Activity#
Mens D (DH)...........................Mondays.......... 22........................$975............#7142 Mens D (DH)...........................Wednesdays.. 22........................$975............#7143 Womens..................................Thursdays....... 10+ playoffs....$650............#7144 Womens (DH).......................Thursdays....... 22........................$975............ #7145 Co-Rec 11/12� (DH)............Tuesdays.......... 20.......................$925............#7146 Co-Rec 11/12� (DH)............Fridays.............. 20.......................$925............ #7147 Mens (5-5-5)..........................Fridays.............. 20.......................$525............#7148
Fat Tire Biking 16 & older
Sunday, April 21, 3-5pm $10/person (must be 16 or older)
Bird Hike all ages
A new way to play softball. Team #1 of 5 players bats for 3 outs while Team #2 of 5 players plays the infield and Team #3 of 5 players plays outfield and catcher. Once 3 outs are recorded, the teams switch places. Games are 5 innings.
Thursday, May 9, 9-11am $5/person $10/family (up to 5 people)
BlaineMN.gov/ WetlandSanctuary
Page 12 BlaineParks.com or BlaineEvents.com - Recreation Connection
Blaine Market
Outdoor Ice Skating Rinks
Farmers & Handcrafted at Blaine City Hall
with supervised warming houses and lights
Aurelia Park
Ostmans Park
Happy Acres Park
Quail Creek (unsupervised)
Hockey/General Rink 130th Avenue and Buchanan Street
Hockey/General Rink 91st Avenue at Jefferson Street
General Rink 2206 Quail Creek Parkway
3 Hockey and 1 General Rink 119th Avenue and 7th Street
Lexington Athletic Complex
Visit BlaineMN.gov/ SkatingRinks for up to date rink closures and ice conditions.
Hockey Rink 4286 - 121st Avenue
Warming House Hours
Monday - Friday........................................................................................................................4 - 9 pm Saturday.............................................................................................................................noon - 9 pm Sunday.................................................................................................................................noon - 7 pm School Vacation Days...................................................................................................noon - 9 pm
The Blaine Market is proud to connect the community with locally grown and produced products to enhance the life and well being of our residents. Artisan Foods Allergen Friendly Farm to Table Farmstead Products Fresh Produce Handcrafted Items Organic Products
Saturdays, 9am to 1pm January 12, February 9, March 9, April 13 BlaineEvents.com/ BlaineMarket
Quincy Park
Small Hockey/General Rink 10601 Quincy Boulevard Thursdays & Fridays 4 - 9PM
Warming houses close when unsafe ice conditions exist or the temperature is -10° Fahrenheit or below or the wind chill is -10° F or below.
Saturdays & Sundays noon - 7PM
Visit BlaineParks.com for updated ice skating information.
Unlighted Rinks
without warming houses or supervision
Austin Park
Deacon’s Park
4041 85th Lane
11200 Arnold Palmer Drive
Carrara East Park
Ivy Hills Park
13129 Eldorado Street
12197 Fergus Street
Xylite Park 9033 Xylite Street For up-to-date information on rink status, visit BlaineParks.com/SkatingRinks
WorldFest at Town Square Park
May 18, 2019 Saturday, 1 to 4pm Now accepting applications for Food Vendors | Sponsors Cultural Exhibits | Volunteers
BlaineEvents.com/ WorldFest
