ROCKFORD — A handheld tool that trims string for landscape trimmers took home the top prize Wednesday at the Stateline FastPitch Competition.

Chuck Meyers with MLC Maintenance and Meyers Lawn Care won $5,000 at Northern Illinois University-Rockford after his three-minute pitch wowed a panel of judges.

Meyers was one of 27 entrepreneurs who pitched their business ideas in the afternoon for the seventh annual competition. Eleven finalists delivered their pitches again in the evening session, where the public also could hear their ideas.

The winning idea, the String Gator, is similar to a cigar cutter that attaches to the shaft of a trimmer to cut string that’s loaded into the trimmer head.

Meyers said he’s had to drive home a few times from landscaping jobs because he forgot scissors or a box cutter to cut the string he needed for a trimmer. The goal is to make the product in the Rockford area and market and sell it to landscaping companies and national trimmer companies.

“It’s pretty exciting, actually,” Meyers said. “It’s definitely a good experience doing this, just from learning marketing skills and getting up in front of people.”

FastPitch kicked off in 2007 as a way to spotlight local entrepreneurs. It’s organized by EIGERlab, a business incubator in Rockford that helps entrepreneurs perfect business plans and commercialize their ideas.

Two-thirds of the participants went through some type of training to perfect their pitches before the competition, EIGERlab executive director Dan Cataldi said.

“At the end of the day, your idea is only as good as the person selling it, and you have to sell your idea, whether you’re an inventor and an engineer or you’re in management or you’re a professional,” Cataldi told the group. “If you can’t sell your product, nobody can sell your product.”

Adrian Vasquez won the second-place prize of $1,000 for his NZ3 design, an adjustable nozzle fitted to a hair dryer that directs air downward.

Edgar Marin took home the third-place trophy and $500 for the Breeze Welding Helmet, which he pitched as a safer and more comfortable welding helmet design.

Photographer Nels Akerlund delivered a short keynote while judges picked the contest winners. Akerlund has photographed presidents, celebrities and destinations across the world.

He highlighted the importance of marketing yourself, making good connections and finding alternatives to doing business even when people tell you “no.”

Last year, FastPitch organizers expanded the competition to southern Wisconsin to help promote and sustain regional development. Similar contests will take place again Aug. 21 for Racine and Kenosha counties and this fall for Rock and Walworth counties.

Melissa Westphal: 815-987-1341; mwestpha@rrstar.com; @mlwestphal

Other finalists
Jerry Doll: Tru-Grip Ergonomic Shaver Toothbrush Handle
Colin Cronin: New Vybe, a fitness studio in Loves Park (expanding into DVD fitness market)
Anthony Gutierrez: Southwest Connects, a chili roaster distributor
Donovan Harris: Grip less exercise glove
Tom Keenan: Cool Seat Coolers (customizable cooler shaped like a chair)
AnnDee Nimmer: RoomTagz (easy-to-see signs for places like classrooms)
Robyn Scott: Purely CultureCare (organic ethnic skin care line)
Maheseh Singareddy: FixMyHome (application that connects people to home-repair resources)

Fundraising for construction of a facility that kicks off a plan to revitalize the Haumerson’s Pond area and Bark River Nature Park was approved Tuesday by the Fort Atkinson City Council.

The council heard a presentation from the Friends of Haumerson’s Pond, a newly formed organization seeking to rehabilitate the area that formerly was a center of winter recreation.

Organization founder Steve Mode presented his vision of the multi-phase concept of redeveloping the park.

“My theory on this whole park is to have the community build it by the community for the community,” Mode said. “For me, it’s a passion. It is a special place and something that needs to come back.”

He pointed out that young people today don’t even know about skating at Haumerson’s Pond.

“That was the center of the life,” Mode said. “That was where everybody went. The travesty of the thing is that we have lost the generation of kids that had an opportunity to skate there. I think they would have skated if they had the opportunity to do it.”

Prior to garnering approval from the city council Tuesday, Mode twice had made presentation to the Fort Atkinson Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. Both it and the council members were supportive of the community effort.

Councilperson John Mielke was nostalgic about the site, echoing Mode’s description of it being the center and hub of activity.

“You guys have done a lot of groundwork already and covered a lot of bases and I just think its flat-out cool,” he said.

Council President Davin Lescohier noted that the project is a good example of what is done in Fort Atkinson.

“As a community, we embrace good ideas and find ways to get things done,” he said.

In this case, Lescohier said, the Friends of Haumerson’s Pond have taken a big idea, mobilized a grassroots effort and established a multi-phase plan to revitalize a part of the community within a few short months.

Citing a statement Mode made at his presentation to the Parks board, the council president agreed that the area was indeed “a gem waiting to be polished.”

The first phase of the project includes reconstruction of a warming shed, enabling ice skating to resume on the pond that saw more than 70 years of residents gliding across its frozen surface.

“What we’re proposing is not only to bring Haumerson’s Pond to life as a skating rink,” Mode said. “What we want to do is put a building done there that is kind of a legacy building.”

The proposed timber-frame building will sit near the edge of the pond and occupy a footprint of about 25-by-40 feet. Mode said he and another volunteer, Craig Roost, have designed the building to appear as if it could have stood on the site during the location’s days as a brickyard almost a century ago.

In terms of viewing the facility as something for skating, Mode acknowledged it would be a rather impressive structure. Organizers considered it as something similar to what might be seen at a state park.

“Skating season can be very limiting,” he said. “The only way we saw fit to do a building like that is to make that park more of a year-round place.”

Following construction of the warming shed, the suggested second phase of the project would include the addition of several mountain bike and cross-country ski trails throughout the Bark River Nature area, as well as a disc golf course.

The improvements of phase two are contingent on acquiring the use of Probst Field from the School District of Fort Atkinson, an open area that abuts the Bark River Nature Park and once was used as a practice facility for the high school. However, today, the school district rarely uses that area and the land is all but abandoned. Mode has met with school district officials, who appear open to working with the city on an agreement that would include the district maintaining a playable soccer-sized field for use.

The proposed third phase of the project would include rehabilitation of the pond itself, including dredging. Mode said this would come later in the development timeline because application procedures permitting required by the state Department of Natural Resources could delay this work somewhat.

Finally, a fourth phase would see the addition of a parking lot for approximately 30 vehicles, along with landscaping around the pond and trailhead area to finish off the project.

Mode said that although the organization eventually would like to see all its plans realized, the keystone to the development is construction of the building.

“It is something that park deserves,” he said. “It is kind of a blight right now. The nature trails are beautiful, but there is a lot of it that could be upgraded and could be very nice.”

For the design process, Mode said organizers have met with those who will be in charge of maintaining such a structure.

Current plans call for the building to be designed with three large garage doors to open during flooding and allow water to run right through the building instead of expending city efforts sandbagging. Additionally, building materials below the 100-year-flood mark will be cream city brick and concrete to aid in cleanup, with no metal or wood appearing on the structure until well above the high-water mark.

Mode said the DNR has given its approval of the proposed building site.

He acknowledged that he and Roost have an aggressive schedule.

“Our goal is to have a building in place by next winter so children can start skating again at Haumerson’s Pond,” Mode said. “We do know a lot of that is dependent on fundraising, how fast stuff comes in and how fast we can get working on it. We’re trying to get a lot of pieces in place in a short time.”

To make a contribution, persons may send checks payable to “Fort Atkinson Community Foundation” to 244 N. Main St., Fort Atkinson, WI, 53538, or drop it off at the chamber office between Monday and Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Indicate on the memo line that the tax-exempt donation is for Friends of Haumerson’s Pond fund.

Direct donations can also be made by credit card at http://fortfoundation.org/donor-information/make-a-donation-now.

Further information on how to made specific contributions will be released as available through the Friends of Haumerson’s Pond. Those interested also may follow the group on Facebook.

Also Tuesday, the city council members:

• Approved a $23,125 bid from J.W. Schultz Construction for the 2013 curb-and-gutter contract for installation of 2,500 linear feet of curb-and-gutter on Hilltop Trail.

• Authorized waiver of the city’s sewer ordinance for Chemair Helicopter Inc. to construct a hangar at the airport.

• Amended the zoning of 1040 Whitewater Ave. from R-1, single family residential to R-3, multi-family residential/office district.

• Reviewed and approved minor amendments to the listing contract with MLG Commercial Inc. for the Klement Business Park.

• Approved a Class A intoxicating liquor and fermented malt beverage license for Fort Community Credit Union d/b/a Sai-Mart 2 at 1285 Madison Ave.

More News

The Splash June 2013

The Summer Primer

Council approves go-ahead for LL Ball Fields

Trio of Council seats contested

Hillside homesteaders took on own set of prospects, challenges

Summer construction outlook

Transportation issues, ball fields lead council discussion in May

Broadwing, Courtyard grow multi-family options

Projects add to increasingly eclectic housing market

Open house sheds light on city, community resources

A Cup of Joe: From land to lake

LLSWD hire brings environmental savvy to new role

Police Report

Open house sheds light on city, community resources

Council moves closer to decision on LL Ball Fields

Downtown Williston was abuzz Tuesday night as more than 70 residents, business owners and city officials came together to envision a future for the city’s historic district.

Armed with colored makers, large pads of paper and maps of the city, two planners from Midwest-based RDG Planning Design called for community engagement and urged attendees to share ideas and priorities as they kicked off a public meeting and community roundtable to discuss the Downtown Development Master Plan, which was hosted by the city’s planning department.

“You’re going to help us tonight at the beginning stages of this process developing the downtown plan,” RDG Principal Martin Shukert said. “For the next few months, we really are in a way the spokespeople for your ideas and see this project at this stage as being very much as a collaboration and partnership.”

Before attendees divided into eight small groups to let their inner planner dream big, Shukert laid out a three-prong plan for downtown Williston. The Downtown Reconstruction Project, now in engineering design, aims to rebuild infrastructure (water/sewer) and replace sidewalks, curb/gutter and street pavement on Main Street (and may include Broadway). The Downtown Streetscape Plan, prepared by Bismark-based KLJ, calls for enhancements on and above the street and sidewalk surface that includes lighting, signage and landscaping. The master plan takes a much broader approach, according to Shukert, and looks at markets, strategies, development projects, parking, connections and surrounding neighborhoods.

“Master plan looks at overall framework that deals with all of these different systems, activities, perspectives, the economics of business and land use mixes and zoning that all have something to do with what a downtown looks like and how it develops over the years,” Shukert said.

RDG Downtown Planner and Partner Cory Scott said the firm has worked in downtown communities throughout the Midwest and some of the Rocky Mountain States, with populations ranging from 900 to 400,000.

“With the oil boom, that brings a lot of interest and all eyes are on Williston — it brings a lot of opportunity. With the number of people that are coming in to town for business, what can we do to improve the quality of life and enjoyment of the city and retain some of the people that are here and find Williston their home,” Scott said.

The firm’s design concepts for communities such as Detroit Lakes, Minn., and Pella, Iowa were presented and discussed to show how downtown areas can be transformed. Because of the Dutch influence in Pella, the idea of replicating the country’s canals resulted in an mixed-use project replete with an urban canal, restaurants, a movie theater, housing and a hotel.

But for two residents of Williston, the talk smacked of broken promises and missed opportunities after the last oil boom.

“When are the people that are directly involved in this process going to feel comfortable and stand up and say what they really feel,” said Lloyd Ashton, a longtime resident and owner of Hedderichs on Main Street. “The outsiders are coming here and talking to us from all over the world. … We’ve seen all this stuff before.”

Ashton and another resident and business owner, Rex Byerly, asked who would pay for the project, concerned they and others would have to “pick up the tab,” similar to what they experienced after the last boom.

“First of all, we have no guarantees that the oil boom will stay here,” Mayor Ward Koeser said, adding the city is taking a different approach this time by not putting a lot of the tax burden on the taxpayer.

Shukert, in response to Ashton and Byerly’s comments regarding cost, said the funding sources for the master plan are currently unknown and hinge upon what grows out of the process.

“The trick and art of developing this type of plan is putting together something where the benefits are clear and the costs, to the degree that they exist, are equitably distributed among the community that’s benefiting,” he said.

Koeser said the city has told the state that it needs to be involved this time and to developers, the message is: “You have to pay your own way.”

“We didn’t do that the last go-around, so I think we’re taking actions that will protect us. We’ve got to take calculated risks, and all we’re doing today is looking at ideas and then people will process that and they’ll say ‘This is doable, this isn’t doable,’” Koeser said.

For a majority of the participants, the community roundtable allowed them to weigh in with their concerns and excitement as well.

“I really want to see it revitalized. I really enjoy doing downtown, and I want to see it expanded,” Karlyne Mickolio explained as she watched Cooks on Main owner Angela DeMaris write down comments and ideas from their group’s discussion, which included a skate zone, bike racks and lanes and outdoor movies.

Daily Addiction owners Laura and Trevor Ward came to show their support for the master plan. Laura has lived in Williston for more than a decade and said they opened their coffee on Main Street in 2009. Trevor, a native, said he wanted to “get some insight into the planning and have a voice in the process of implementation.”

After each group had an opportunity to identify issues, priorities and projects for the downtown area, the participants reconvened to share their findings. Concerns ranged from parking and the new senior location to the strip clubs and the truck bypass. Priorities included attracting more retail and restaurants (the mention of  a chocolate store elicited smiles), adding green space and enhancing the railroad park and working to make it a destination, though one resident said this may be a challenge due to the waterways and all of the goods and commodities that are transported via the railway. Project ideas such as an apartment complex, development of the downtown skyline and lighting and signage were noted by several of the groups.

Shukert said the firm is doing a lot of survey to determine the current condition in downtown Williston. In May, all of the parking spaces were counted and buildings were photographed.

“Putting together a road map results in an analysis of where we are, a concept of where we want to be in the future and a detail framework that tells us how we’re going to get there,” Shukert said. “Our entire focus is how do we make downtown Williston a strong, growing market center core for this rapidly growing community. … How do you take the historical town center of a town of about 15,000 people and adapt that to the needs of a town that’s growing and fast-forwarding to 50,000 and 60,000 people?

The process will go on for a period of eight months, Shukert said. In mid-July, development concepts will be explored over a three-day design studio and then again in August. Both Shukert and Scott urged participants to use the community engagement website at www.plandowntownwilliston.com to suggest ideas, leave comments and vote for ideas.

Perhaps you have an idea that’s been banging around in the ol’ cranium for what Clermont ought to do to make itself attractive to visitors.

Tonight would be the time to fish it out of there and bring it to City Council members during a forum set for 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Family Christian Center, 2500 S. U.S. Highway 27.

The meeting is the second in which the city is asking residents what they’d like to see Clermont become. The first meeting, on May 21, resulted in an idea for a zip line from the Citrus Tower to Waterfront Park. About 400 people attended, and the city is hoping for another big turnout.

• Lauren Ritchie

• 

• E-mail |

  Recent columns

• Topics
• 
  
  Clermont
  
• 
  
  Arts
  
• 
  
  Highway Transportation
  
• See more topics »
• Maps

• Clermont, FL, USA

Whatever is suggested, city officials should keep in mind that no single attraction is magically going to turn Clermont into the hottest destination in Central Florida. What makes a city a place where people want to spend time is a cohesive theme and a collection of fun choices — along with an attitude of pride. And in the end, perhaps the latter is the most important. It’s just not something that can be bought.

Meanwhile, here are a few suggestions from Clermont folks who have been doing a little thinking about what would make the city a better place to live:

A zip line would be fun and unique for Lake County. However, as founder of the Moonlight Players, I feel money spent on the arts would bring more balance to the community.

The Moonlight Players will be 20 years old next summer. We have existed without any help from the city, unlike theater groups in Eustis, Mount Dora and Leesburg.

Our “theater kids” learn communication techniques, creativity and problem-solving. Many have gone on to Chicago, Los Angeles and New York as performers, and some have even performed on Broadway.

More important, we have had these same kids stay in Lake County as community leaders, teachers and respected parents and taxpayers. The arts are the heart of any community, and the theater nurtures all the arts.

We must keep the arts alive in South Lake County.

Jan Sheldon

What Clermont needs to do is strike a balance between quality-of-life issues and economic development.

The balance has been out of whack, with economic development being about 90 percent of the focus. For example, the arts, youth activities and senior activities all require an investment in facilities.

Also, Clermont’s needs are tied to regional needs such as a light rail system connected to Orlando’s attractions, stadiums and airport, along with a system of public transportation locally.

We’ve got to stop the mind set that more roads are the lone answer to traffic congestion.

Clermont cannot fund every activity in south Lake. It needs a partnership with the county and other cities to help finance new facilities and run them. Probably a majority of people using facilities in Clermont are not city residents. Still, Clermont is in a good position financially because it did not overreach during the boom as other cities did.

Gimmicks like a zip line are visible projects that would attract attention, but they add nothing to the quality of life for residents. A zip line would be economic development.

Whatever is done, we’ve got to protect the natural beauty of the area, which is a huge part of the quality of life.

Marvin Jacobson

Clermont should develop water sports at the downtown lake. It would be great to go there to rent kayaks, paddle boards and other fun things, and it would be a natural fit. (A little concession would be nice to buy water, soda and snacks, too.)

Aso, why doesn’t Clermont landscape State Road 50 and U.S. Highway 27? Clermont can’t expect to attract people if the place looks run down.

Cities can have landscaping, but the state Department of Transportation requires that they participate in the maintenance. That could be a clue as to why it hasn’t been done. Clermont hasn’t wanted to participate in anything that requires the city to spend money, even if it would increase the number of visitors to the area who would be spending money.

Linda Cousins

Lritchie@tribune.com. Lauren invites you to send her a friend request on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/laurenonlake.

June 17–RANCHO CUCAMONGA — Residents who live in the northern portion of the city now can get ideas for fire-safe landscaping at Hellman fire station.

The Rancho Cucamonga Fire District recently introduced the Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Safety Education Project at the station. Landscaping at the station is meant to demonstrate best practices for homes in the high-fire-hazard foothill areas above the 210 Freeway.

Landscaping at the station, including stones, mulch, and low-lying native plants, when placed around a home can create defensible space to keep flames away from homes.

“This will help homeowners better defend themselves and help us to defend them should a fire burn through the area like it did in 2003 during the Grand Prix fire,” Fire Chief Mike Bell said.

In addition, the Fire District recently announced a new warning program and RC Fire Watch. When a red-flag warning is issued to warn of high wildfire risk, the district will hang red flags at its stations.

The department also plans to deploy red-shirted RC Fire Watch volunteers on red-flag days and the Fourth of July to have “eyes and ears” out in the field as an early warning system for fire. Volunteers would also contact people entering mountain areas and make sure they’re prepared to go into canyon, mountain and wildland areas.

In a separate project, the fire department is working with Eagle Scout Jacob Fakhoury to identify fire-safe plants in the high-risk zones in

the foothills.

“I will be putting the signs near the identified plants just to help the community so we can help prevent fires as much as we can from destroying the community,” Fakhoury said.

Residents can get fire-safety tips and check whether their home falls in the Wildland-Urban Interface Area at rcfire.org.

Mary Peat, who lives in northwest Rancho Cucamonga, said a visit to the fire station has given her ideas on how to landscape her own backyard.

“I have a back section like this that I wanted to develop, and the landscape architect was able to answer some questions for me,” Peat said.

Peat had to evacuate horses when the Grand Prix fire swept through the area 10 years ago.

The 6,000-square-foot single- story Hellman Fire Station 177 opened on Jan. 24, 2012. A three-person crew staffs a paramedic fire engine ready to respond to fire, medical and rescue emergencies.

• News
  • Local
  • Nation
  • World
  • Investigators
  • Weather
  • Obituaries
  • Minnesota Topics
• Local
  • North Metro
  • West Metro
  • South Metro
  • East Metro
  • Minneapolis
  • St. Paul
  • Your Voices
  • Blogs + Columns
  • Minnesota Topics
• Sports
  • Vikings / NFL
  • Twins / MLB
  • Wolves / NBA
  • Wild / NHL
  • Lynx / WNBA
  • Gophers
  • Preps
  • Outdoors
  • Golf
  • Racing
  • Blogs
  • Video
• Business
  • Economy
  • Your Money
  • Top Workplaces
  • Blogs + Columns
  • Business Finder
  • Minnesota Topics
• Politics
  • State + Local
  • National
  • Hot Dish Blog
• Opinion
  • Editorials
  • Our Columnists
  • Commentaries
  • Cartoons
  • Letters
• Lifestyle
  • Taste
  • Home + Garden
  • Travel
  • Health
  • Kids’ Health
  • Style
  • Relationships
  • Steals
  • Blogs + Columns
• Entertainment
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Eat + Drink
  • Stage + Arts
  • TV + Media
  • Books
  • Family + Fun
  • Celebs
  • Comics + Games
  • Blogs
  • vita.mn
  • Video

‘);
}
document.write(‘

‘);
document.write(‘

‘);
jQuery(‘.navTab’ + ad_AdvertiserArray.data[adt].advertiserID).click(ad_AdvertiserArray.data[adt], function(eventObj){
window.location.href = “http://” + hostEnv + “www.startribune.com/weekly-ads/?dppAID=” + eventObj.data.advertiserID;
});
jQuery(‘.navTabWa’ + ad_AdvertiserArray.data[adt].advertiserID).click(ad_AdvertiserArray.data[adt], function(eventObj){
window.location.href = “http://” + hostEnv + “www.startribune.com/weekly-ads/?dppAID=” + eventObj.data.advertiserID;
});
}

‘);
}
dppNavTab.start();

hide

The use of native plants in landscaping can help prevent runoff, protecting water sources and improving soil.

Photo: Adrian Danciu , bluethumb.org

Star Tribune photo galleries

view larger

• 0
• comments
• resize text
• print
• buy reprints

• Tweet

• 

  share

  email

  

“);
}
check=false;
}
else
{
jQuery(“#senderName2”).removeClass(“fc-field-error”);
jQuery(“#errorName2”).remove();
check=true;
}
if(!yourEmail.match(“[a-zA-Z0-9!#$%’*+/=?^_`{|}~-]+(?:.[a-zA-Z0-9!#$%’*+/=?^_`{|}~-]+)*@(?:[a-zA-Z0-9](?:[a-zA-Z0-9-]*[a-zA-Z0-9])?.)+[a-zA-Z0-9](?:[a-zA-Z0-9-]*[a-zA-Z0-9])”))
{
jQuery(“#senderMail2”).addClass(“fc-field-error”);
if(jQuery(“#errorMail2”).length

Please enter your valid email address.

“);
}
check=false;
}
else
{
jQuery(“#senderMail2”).removeClass(“fc-field-error”);
jQuery(“#errorMail2”).remove();
check=true;
}
if(!recipientsEmail.match(“[a-zA-Z0-9!#$%’*+/=?^_`{|}~-]+(?:.[a-zA-Z0-9!#$%’*+/=?^_`{|}~-]+)*@(?:[a-zA-Z0-9](?:[a-zA-Z0-9-]*[a-zA-Z0-9])?.)+[a-zA-Z0-9](?:[a-zA-Z0-9-]*[a-zA-Z0-9])”))
{
jQuery(“#recipientsEmail2”).addClass(“fc-field-error”);
if(jQuery(“#errorRMail2”).length

Please enter recipient valid email address.

“);
}
check=false;
}
else
{
jQuery(“#recipientsEmail2”).removeClass(“fc-field-error”);
jQuery(“#errorRMail2”).remove();
check=true;
}

if(check==true)
{
jQuery(“.shareLayer”).append(“”);
jQuery.post(“/mail/”, { “sender_name”: yourName, “sender_email”: yourEmail,”recipient_email”:recipientsEmail,”comment”:comment,”domain”:domain,”path”:path,”contentId”:contentId } ,function(data)
{
jQuery(“.shareLayer”).hide(“slow”);
alert(“your mail has been sent”);

});
}
}

Kay Qualley urges suburban homeowners to go a little wild.

Let go of those stodgy 1950s ideals of the perfect turf and add some color and texture to your landscaping with native plants. Push a little further and add a rain garden. Native flora will attract native birds, butterflies and compliments, Qualley said.

It isn’t just about aesthetics.

It saves homeowners time and money — less mowing, watering and fertilizing — and it’s protecting rivers and lakes and recharging groundwater supplies, Qualley says.

Qualley is Fridley’s environmental planner. The city, along with the Anoka Conservation District, is hosting an event this Thursday to promote the idea; the event is called “Fridley Loves the Mississippi: Re-thinking Landscaping for Water Quality.”

“I sometimes wonder if it’s about control,” Qualley said of the traditional ideals of a perfect lawn. “Let’s get the lawn in order, the shrubs pruned. Let’s get order imposed on the landscape. But it’s fun to have birds and butterflies floating in and out of your yard. We are loosening our idea of what is beautiful in landscape.”

The free session runs from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Fridley Community Center and focuses on landscaping ideas that include adding native plants and rain gardens that help absorb runoff. The session will include design ideas, sample landscape plans, native plant guidance and plant sourcing, lakeshore and riverbank care, and planting sustainable lawns.

There’s much at stake. Three watershed districts — Rice Creek, Coon Creek and the Mississippi River — touch the city of Fridley. Moore and Loche lakes are also inside the city’s boundaries.

Runoff water from neighborhoods, driveways, parking lots and streets picks up pollutants and debris and flows them back into rivers and lakes. A rain garden, usually a low-lying spot that is landscaped with native plants, captures, absorbs and filters runoff, reducing pollution in lakes and rivers. It also improves ground water quality. Many north metro communities rely on ground wells for their city water supplies.

“Particularly within our watershed, a lot of our lakes and streams have water-quality issues related to excessive nutrients, including phosphorus. It leads to a lot of algae growth. It impacts aesthetics and recreation. There are some biological issues,” said Kyle Axtell, water resource specialist with the Rice Creek Watershed District, which includes parts of Anoka, Hennepin, Ramsey and Washington counties. Axtell will be at Thursday’s event.

Grant program

The watershed district promotes best management practices including rain gardens and shoreline restoration with a grant program. Homeowners can be reimbursed for as much as 50 percent of an approved native landscaping project, up to $5,000. The Rice Creek Watershed District has $150,000 for these grants.

It also contracts with the Anoka Conservation District to offer free site visits and landscaping advice for homeowners and businesses.

Expense is actually not the biggest issue causing homeowners to hesitate.

“The biggest hurdle to someone doing a project is not the money but the technical assistance. How do I go about doing it?” Axtell said.

Mitch Haustein from Anoka Conservation District will also speak Thursday. He does site visits and provides technical assistance, helping residents determine where a rain garden will have the most impact on their lawns.

Changing the landscape of Fridley’s neighborhoods won’t just improve water quality, Qualley said.

Native plants including red milkweed, sweet black-eyed susan or purple liatris will create a distinctive sense of place vs. ubiquitous petunias and pansies, Qualley said.

• more from north metro

• Postal worker killed in Brooklyn Center loading dock accident

• Missing Brooklyn Park baby found safe in St. Paul; 2 held

• North metro police blotter

• get related content delivered to your inbox

‘);
}
if(jQuery.inArray(‘2611’, userSubsArray ) == -1) {
document.write(‘

‘);
}
if(jQuery.inArray(‘2751’, userSubsArray ) == -1) {
document.write(‘

‘);
}

manage my email subscriptions

‘);
}

• 0
• comments
• resize text
• print
• buy reprints

• Tweet

• 

  share

  email

  

“);
}
check=false;
}
else
{
jQuery(“#senderName3”).removeClass(“fc-field-error”);
jQuery(“#errorName3”).remove();
check=true;
}
if(!yourEmail.match(“[a-zA-Z0-9!#$%’*+/=?^_`{|}~-]+(?:.[a-zA-Z0-9!#$%’*+/=?^_`{|}~-]+)*@(?:[a-zA-Z0-9](?:[a-zA-Z0-9-]*[a-zA-Z0-9])?.)+[a-zA-Z0-9](?:[a-zA-Z0-9-]*[a-zA-Z0-9])”))
{
jQuery(“#senderMail3”).addClass(“fc-field-error”);
if(jQuery(“#errorMail3”).length

Please enter your valid email address.

“);
}
check=false;
}
else
{
jQuery(“#senderMail3”).removeClass(“fc-field-error”);
jQuery(“#errorMail3”).remove();
check=true;
}
if(!recipientsEmail.match(“[a-zA-Z0-9!#$%’*+/=?^_`{|}~-]+(?:.[a-zA-Z0-9!#$%’*+/=?^_`{|}~-]+)*@(?:[a-zA-Z0-9](?:[a-zA-Z0-9-]*[a-zA-Z0-9])?.)+[a-zA-Z0-9](?:[a-zA-Z0-9-]*[a-zA-Z0-9])”))
{
jQuery(“#recipientsEmail3”).addClass(“fc-field-error”);
if(jQuery(“#errorRMail3”).length

Please enter recipient valid email address.

“);
}
check=false;
}
else
{
jQuery(“#recipientsEmail3”).removeClass(“fc-field-error”);
jQuery(“#errorRMail3”).remove();
check=true;
}

if(check==true)
{
jQuery(“.shareLayer”).append(“”);
jQuery.post(“/mail/”, { “sender_name”: yourName, “sender_email”: yourEmail,”recipient_email”:recipientsEmail,”comment”:comment,”domain”:domain,”path”:path,”contentId”:contentId } ,function(data)
{
jQuery(“.shareLayer”).hide(“slow”);
alert(“your mail has been sent”);

});
}
}

ADVERTISEMENT

• Most read
• Most Emailed
• Most Watched

<![CDATA[

]]>

• 

  StribCast: Headache for commuters on I-694

• 

  StribCast: Who took that planter in Stillwater?

• 

  Mbakwe works out for Timberwolves

• 

  Look, it’s a car … and it floats

• 

  Walters takes the blame for Twins loss

• More Video

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

inside the StarTribune

jobs

2013 Top Workplaces

home

‘Giving up the Ghost,’ a serial novel by Mary Logue

lifestyle

Best of MN 2013: Guide to state’s finest

sports

New Vikings stadium section: The game plan

local

Follow Star Tribune on social media

sports

Guide to Minnesota’s 18-hole public golf courses

• 425 Portland Av. S.

  Minneapolis, MN 55488

  (612) 673-4000

• Company
  • About the StarTribune
  • Advertising
  • Directory + Contacts
  • Jobs at the StarTribune
  • Newspaper in Education

  <!–

  • Tours

  –>

  • Vita.mn: Entertainment
  • Business Listings
• Subscriber Services
  • Newspaper Subscriptions
  • Digital Access
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Holds/Billing
  • Newsletters
• Website
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Ad Choices
  • Site Index
• Buy Ads
  • Online Ads
  • Newspaper Ads
  • Classifieds
• Store
  <!–
  • Photographs

  –>

  • Article Archives

  <!–

  • InfoArt

  –>

  • Back copies
  • Commercial Reprints
  • Permissions
• Connect with Us
  • Contact Us
  • Send a press release
  • Become a Fan
  • Follow Us
  • RSS

© 2013 StarTribune. All rights reserved.

StarTribune.com is powered by Limelight Networks

• Newspaper Subscriptions
• eEdition
• RSS
• Newsletters

RANCHO CUCAMONGA – Residents who live in the northern portion of the city now can get ideas for fire-safe landscaping at Hellman fire station.

The Rancho Cucamonga Fire District recently introduced the Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Safety Education Project at the station. Landscaping at the station is meant to demonstrate best practices for homes in the high-fire-hazard foothill areas above the 210 Freeway.

Landscaping at the station, including stones, mulch, and low-lying native plants, when placed around a home can create defensible space to keep flames away from homes.

“This will help homeowners better defend themselves and help us to defend them should a fire burn through the area like it did in 2003 during the Grand Prix fire,” Fire Chief Mike Bell said.

In addition, the Fire District recently announced a new warning program and RC Fire Watch. When a red-flag warning is issued to warn of high wildfire risk, the district will hang red flags at its stations.

The department also plans to deploy red-shirted RC Fire Watch volunteers on red-flag days and the Fourth of July to have “eyes and ears” out in the field as an early warning system for fire. Volunteers would also contact people entering mountain areas and make sure they’re prepared to go into canyon, mountain and wildland areas.

In a separate project, the fire department is working with Eagle Scout Jacob Fakhoury to identify fire-safe plants in the high-risk zones in

the foothills.

“I will be putting the signs near the identified plants just to help the community so we can help prevent fires as much as we can from destroying the community,” Fakhoury said.

Residents can get fire-safety tips and check whether their home falls in the Wildland-Urban Interface Area at rcfire.org.

Mary Peat, who lives in northwest Rancho Cucamonga, said a visit to the fire station has given her ideas on how to landscape her own backyard.

“I have a back section like this that I wanted to develop, and the landscape architect was able to answer some questions for me,” Peat said.

Peat had to evacuate horses when the Grand Prix fire swept through the area 10 years ago.

The 6,000-square-foot single- story Hellman Fire Station 177 opened on Jan. 24, 2012. A three-person crew staffs a paramedic fire engine ready to respond to fire, medical and rescue emergencies.

The station also houses a fire engine designed for response in the brush-covered hillsides in northern Rancho Cucamonga.

RANCHO CUCAMONGA – Residents who live in the northern portion of the city now can get ideas for fire-safe landscaping at Hellman fire station.

The Rancho Cucamonga Fire District recently introduced the Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Safety Education Project at the station. Landscaping at the station is meant to demonstrate best practices for homes in the high-fire-hazard foothill areas above the 210 Freeway.

Landscaping at the station, including stones, mulch, and low-lying native plants, when placed around a home can create defensible space to keep flames away from homes.

“This will help homeowners better defend themselves and help us to defend them should a fire burn through the area like it did in 2003 during the Grand Prix fire,” Fire Chief Mike Bell said.

In addition, the Fire District recently announced a new warning program and RC Fire Watch. When a red-flag warning is issued to warn of high wildfire risk, the district will hang red flags at its stations.

The department also plans to deploy red-shirted RC Fire Watch volunteers on red-flag days and the Fourth of July to have “eyes and ears” out in the field as an early warning system for fire. Volunteers would also contact people entering mountain areas and make sure they’re prepared to go into canyon, mountain and wildland areas.

In a separate project, the fire department is working with Eagle Scout Jacob Fakhoury to identify fire-safe plants in the high-risk zones in

the foothills.

“I will be putting the signs near the identified plants just to help the community so we can help prevent fires as much as we can from destroying the community,” Fakhoury said.

Residents can get fire-safety tips and check whether their home falls in the Wildland-Urban Interface Area at rcfire.org.

Mary Peat, who lives in northwest Rancho Cucamonga, said a visit to the fire station has given her ideas on how to landscape her own backyard.

“I have a back section like this that I wanted to develop, and the landscape architect was able to answer some questions for me,” Peat said.

Peat had to evacuate horses when the Grand Prix fire swept through the area 10 years ago.

The 6,000-square-foot single- story Hellman Fire Station 177 opened on Jan. 24, 2012. A three-person crew staffs a paramedic fire engine ready to respond to fire, medical and rescue emergencies.

The station also houses a fire engine designed for response in the brush-covered hillsides in northern Rancho Cucamonga.

RANCHO CUCAMONGA – Residents who live in the northern portion of the city now can get ideas for fire-safe landscaping at Hellman fire station.

The Rancho Cucamonga Fire District recently introduced the Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Safety Education Project at the station. Landscaping at the station is meant to demonstrate best practices for homes in the high-fire-hazard foothill areas above the 210 Freeway.

Landscaping at the station, including stones, mulch, and low-lying native plants, when placed around a home can create defensible space to keep flames away from homes.

“This will help homeowners better defend themselves and help us to defend them should a fire burn through the area like it did in 2003 during the Grand Prix fire,” Fire Chief Mike Bell said.

In addition, the Fire District recently announced a new warning program and RC Fire Watch. When a red-flag warning is issued to warn of high wildfire risk, the district will hang red flags at its stations.

The department also plans to deploy red-shirted RC Fire Watch volunteers on red-flag days and the Fourth of July to have “eyes and ears” out in the field as an early warning system for fire. Volunteers would also contact people entering mountain areas and make sure they’re prepared to go into canyon, mountain and wildland areas.

In a separate project, the fire department is working with Eagle Scout Jacob Fakhoury to identify fire-safe plants in the high-risk zones in

the foothills.

“I will be putting the signs near the identified plants just to help the community so we can help prevent fires as much as we can from destroying the community,” Fakhoury said.

Residents can get fire-safety tips and check whether their home falls in the Wildland-Urban Interface Area at rcfire.org.

Mary Peat, who lives in northwest Rancho Cucamonga, said a visit to the fire station has given her ideas on how to landscape her own backyard.

“I have a back section like this that I wanted to develop, and the landscape architect was able to answer some questions for me,” Peat said.

Peat had to evacuate horses when the Grand Prix fire swept through the area 10 years ago.

The 6,000-square-foot single- story Hellman Fire Station 177 opened on Jan. 24, 2012. A three-person crew staffs a paramedic fire engine ready to respond to fire, medical and rescue emergencies.

The station also houses a fire engine designed for response in the brush-covered hillsides in northern Rancho Cucamonga.