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Blaine
CityConnect
WWW.CI.BLAINE.MN.US
November/December 2010
City Publishes 2010
Corporate Report
For the third consecutive year, the City of Blaine has published
its annual Corporate Report to the Community as an insert in this
newsletter. This popular financial
report is designed to give
taxpayers an inside look at
the levy, ultimately displaying
how the City of Blaine turns
taxpayer dollars into quality
city services.
Much of the information is
shown in graphic form and put
in terms of the cost to the owner
of a median-valued home in
Blaine. Financial data is also
broken down to show the
portion of the levy designated
to funding the various services
provided by the city.
Blaine World Fest Draws
Crowd to Town Square Park
The city celebrated its cultural and ethnic diversity on Sept. 25
at Blaine World Fest with music, dance, food and interactive
learning exhibits. More than 900 people attended the event to
party, eat and enjoy dozens of scheduled activities. A recordbreaking
31 groups participated as entertainers, food vendors or
presenters. A complete story about the popular annual event can
be found on the back cover.
Recreational Trails Named
in Honor of Early Residents
Two segments of city recreational trails were recently named in
recognition of early residents who made a lasting impression on
the community.
The first paved trail section, which stretches along Radisson Road
from 105th Avenue south and east to Flanders Street, was named in
honor of George and Sarah Wall. George, an emigrant of England, and
Sarah, from New York, settled in Blaine in 1870, becoming two of the
earliest permanent residents in the area. They made a living farming
and regularly traded goods with nearby Ojibwe camps.
After Blaine separated from Anoka in 1877, George served as
town supervisor, treasurer and road overseer. In fact, 101st Avenue
was originally known as Wall Road. George is also credited with
founding School District #60; he also served on its governing
board. George and Sarah lived in Blaine until retiring in 1907.
A second section of dedicated trail follows Radisson Road from
Flanders Street south and east to Naples Street. It was named in
honor of Charles and Jessie Otte, the daughter and son-in-law of
the George and Sarah Wall. Charles emigrated from Germany in
1881 and by the end of the decade found his way to Blaine, where
he and his family took up farming. In 1894, he married Jessie Wall,
the youngest surviving daughter of George and Sarah.
Charles served as a trustee and treasurer of Blaine Township
and was a board member for the school district. As a farmer, he
acquired a great deal of land and built up a renowned herd of
milking cows. Charles died in 1930 and Sarah passed away in 1945,
but their original homestead remained in the family until 1952. It
was then sold to the Metropolitan Airport Commission and is now
the location of the Anoka County-Blaine Airport.
Several generations of the Otte family were in attendance when
the trails were formally dedicated on Oct. 16.

Blaine City Hall
10801 Town Square Drive NE
Blaine, MN 55449
763-784-6700
763-785-6156 (fax)
CITY COUNCIL
MAYOR
Tom Ryan
12147 Radisson Road NE
Blaine, MN 55449
763-757-3390
tryan@ci.blaine.mn.us
DISTRICT 1
Wes Hovland
8650 Van Buren St. NE
Blaine, MN 55434
763-228-1117
whovland@ci.blaine.mn.us
Dick Swanson
P.O. Box 49725
Blaine, MN 55449
763-370-2557
dswanson@ci.blaine.mn.us
DISTRICT 2
Dave Clark
10833 Fillmore St. NE
Blaine, MN 55434
763-754-7643
dclark@ci.blaine.mn.us
Mike Bourke
83 103rd Ave. NE
Blaine, MN 55434
763-784-1986
DISTRICT 3
Kathy Kolb
11308 Jefferson St. NE
Blaine, MN 55434
763-757-6887
kkolb@ci.blaine.mn.us
Russ Herbst
12875 Lever St. NE
Blaine, MN 55449
763-784-6143
rherbst@ci.blaine.mn.us
CITY MANAGER
Clark Arneson
763-785-6120
carneson@ci.blaine.mn.us
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City Manager...................................763-785-6120
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Senior Citizens Center ......................763-786-9375
Streets ...........................................763-785-6165
Stormwater......................................763-785-6188
Utility Billing ...................................763-785-6141
Water & Sewer System ....................763-785-6165
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PUBLIC MEETINGS
City Council*
Nov. 4 | Nov. 18 | Dec. 2 | Dec. 16
7:30 p.m. | City Hall Council Chambers
City Council Workshops
Nov. 4 | Nov. 11 | Nov. 18
Dec. 2 | Dec. 9 | Dec. 16
6:30 p.m. | City Hall Cloverleaf Room
Planning Commission*
Nov. 9 | Dec. 14
7 p.m. | City Hall Council Chambers
Park Board*
Nov. 23 | Dec. 28
7 p.m. | City Hall Council Chambers
Natural Resource Conservation Board
Nov. 16 | Dec. 21
7 p.m. | City Hall Cloverleaf Farm Room
Arts Council
Nov. 10 | Dec. 8
6:30 p.m. | City Hall Lunch Room
Historical Society
Dec. 14
6:30 p.m. | City Hall Sanctuary Room
* meetings can be seen live on cable channel 16
About this Newsletter...
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
www.ci.blaine.mn.us. Feedback can be
directed to newsletter @ ci.blaine.mn.us .
All city legal notices are published in
the city’s official newspaper, the
Blaine/Spring Lake Park Life.

november | december 2010
Santa to Visit Local Neighborhoods
with SBM Fire Department in December
For more than 30 years, the firefighters of
the SBM Fire Department have volunteered
evenings in December to visit the communities
of Spring Lake Park, Blaine and Mounds View
for the annual Santa Visit, a collection of
non-perishable food items that has become a
tradition for generations of families.
The department will hand out candy canes
to children and collect non-perishable food
Monday, Dec. 6
• Cty Rd 10 south to Cty Rd H between Hwy 65 and Silver
Lake Rd (including Spring Lake Terrace Park)
• 89th Ave to 99th Ave between University Ave and Hwy 65
• 85th Ave north to 95th Ave between Xylite St and 35W
• 117th Ave north to 129th Ave between Hwy 65 and Cloud
Dr, including 119th Circle east of London
Tuesday, Dec. 7
• Cty Rd H north to Cty Hwy 10 between Silver Lake and
35W (includes Towns Edge Terrace)
• Cty Hwy 10 north to 89th Ave between University Ave
and Airport Rd
• 99th Ave north to 109th Ave between University Ave and
Hwy 65 (excluding Blaine Int’l Village)
• 85th Ave north to Flowerfield between Xebec and Lexington
Ave, then Centennial Square and Restwood Communities
• 129th Ave north to 133rd Ave east of Hwy 65 (includes
Quail Creek Pkwy); Hwy 242 north to 132nd Ave between
Jefferson and Hwy 65
items for the local food shelf on the routes
listed below from Dec. 6 through Dec. 9
between 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. If you miss Santa
on your scheduled night, check where he will be
the following night. Non-perishable food items
can also be brought to SBM Fire Station 1 in
Spring Lake Park during that week.
All route information is posted online at
www.sbmfire.com .
Shop Safely this Holiday Season
As the holiday season approaches, retailers are
more crowded than usual with busy shoppers.
During this time, use extra caution when
going out to shop. The following are some
helpful safe shopping tips not just for the
holidays, but also for the entire year:
•Tell a security guard or store employee
if you see an unattended bag or package. The
same applies when taking mass transit: report
any unattended packages to security or staff.
•Do not buy more than you can carry. If
your packages are making it hard for you to
walk upright or see, ask a store employee to
help you carry them to your car.
•Check receipts to see if your full credit
card number appears. If a receipt has the full
number on it, thoroughly scratch it out.
•Double-check that you have our credit
Wednesday, Dec. 8
• Cty Hwy 10 to 85th Ave between Hwy 65 and Long Lk Rd
• 81st Ave north to Sandburnol Dr between University Ave
and Hwy 65
• 109th Ave north to 113th Ave including President Dr and
• 7th St between University Ave and Hwy 65
• Edgewood north to 99th Ave between Hamline Ave E and
Lexington; includes 114th Ave west of Lexington & Lakes
area and Savannah Grove area north of 125th Ave
• 117th Ave north to 242 between University and Hwy 65
Thursday, Dec. 9
• Cty Hwy 10 to Hwy 10 between Long Lk Rd and 35W
• Osborne north to 81st Ave between University and Hwy 65
• Hwy 65 east to Radisson Rd (including North Oaks West
and new subdivisions). 109th Ave north to Arnold Palmer
Dr, then Blaine Int’l Village
• Lexington to Sunset between North Rd and 115th and 125th
• 113th Ave north to 117th between University Ave and Polk
St (includes Four Seasons Community)
Learn Proper Car Seat Installation
from Blaine’s Trained Safety Experts
The Blaine Police Department, Spring Lake
Park-Blaine-Mounds View Fire Department
and Safe Kids Anoka County will host a free
car seat clinic on Tuesday, Jan. 18.
Scheduled from 4 to 7 p.m. at SBM Fire
Station 3 in Blaine, the clinic is open to all Anoka
County residents and is offered by appointment
only. In Minnesota, four out of five car seats
are installed incorrectly. During this free clinic,
experts will inspect your child’s car seat, provide
installation tips and check the seat for recalls.
Parents will demonstrate proper installation
of their seats and have an opportunity to ask
specific questions of trained technicians.
For more information or to make an appointment,
contact Fire & Life Safety Education Chief Connie
Forster at 763-767-4003 (x100).
cards and check book after you pay for items.
If shopping with children, keep the following
advice in mind for everyone’s safety:
•Ensure any children with you know your
cell phone number. Give cards with contact
information to any who do not.
•Make a plan with children in case you
get separated. Have a central meeting place,
and review with your children who they can
turn to for help if they find themselves alone.
•Go over the dangers of strangers so that
they know who not to talk to or follow.
Following this advice can help reduce the
stress of shopping during the particularly
busy holiday season. As always, keep your
personal safety in mind and be on the lookout
for fraud and identity theft.
Chimney Fire
Prevention
Becky Booker - SBM Fire Department
Before lighting your chimney hearth, consider
the condition of your fireplace/wood stove, or
your enjoyment may be short-lived. A dirty
chimney can cause a fire, which can damage
structures, destroy homes and kill people.
Each year thousands of homes
experience chimney fires due to improper
fireplace maintenance. The EPA recommends
having your wood stove, chimney and vents
professionally inspected and cleaned each
year to keep them in safe working order.
Fireplaces are made to safely keep woodfueled
fires while providing welcoming heat.
A chimney’s job is to expel the products of
combustion. When these products leave the
fireplace and flow up into the cooler portion
of the chimney, condensation happens. The
resulting residue that sticks to the inner
walls of the chimney is called creosote. This
substance is black or brown and can take
on different consistencies. Whatever form it
takes, creosote is highly burnable. If creosote
builds up, it can catch fire inside the chimney.
Things that support build-up of creosote are:
•Restricted air supply: Air supply may be
restricted by closed glass doors or by failure to
open the damper wide enough to move heated
smoke up the chimney rapidly. Conditions for
developing creosote increase the longer smoke
and heat remain in the flue.
•Unseasoned wood: The energy used to
burn off the moisture in the wood keeps the
smoke cooler than using dry wood.
•Cooler than normal chimney temperatures.
Tips for Preventing Chimney Fires
•Season wood outdoors at least six months
before burning. Properly seasoned wood
is darker, has cracks in the end grain and
sounds hollow when hit against another
piece of wood.
•Store wood outdoors, stacked off the ground
with the top covered, away from structures.
•Start fires with clean newspaper and dry
kindling. Never start a fire with gasoline,
kerosene, charcoal starter or a propane torch.
•Let the fire burn to coals, then rake the
coals toward the air inlet (and wood stove
door), creating a mound. Do not spread
the coals flat.
•Reload your wood stove by adding at
least three pieces of wood each time, on and
behind the mound of hot coals.
•Use smaller fires in milder weather.
•Do not burn cardboard boxes, wrapping
paper, garbage or Christmas trees.
More information about chimney fires is
available at www.sbmfire.com .

www.ci.blaine.mn.us
World Fest Diversity Essay Contest Winners Announced
The winners of the Blaine World Fest Diversity Essay Contest, as
scored by the Blaine Park Board, have been named. Winners of
each age group – ages 10 to 12, 13 to 15 and 16 to 18 – won gift
certificates to Barnes & Noble, Pizza Hut and Best Buy, respectively.
The winning essays are printed below. The first and second place
essays in each age group are also posted on the city’s website.
Taylor Morgan, age 12 Chyla Rehnelt, age 14 Katrina Schrock, age 16
My ethnic background is a mix between
Cherokee Indian, and African American
I’m very unique because I don’t know a
person with an ethnic back ground quite like
mine. My mother is Black and my father is
white. My diverse family makes me happy
because is different and exciting group. My
extended family is filled with a big range of
voices and views. The voice of my grandma
Allie, speaks of her child hood in Mississippi
before The Civil Rights Movement. She tells
me stories of life before Dr. Martin Luther
Kings famous, “I have a dream speech”, My
Grandpa Mike tells stories of growing up in
Indiana fishing and hunting for his families
food. The world is like my family. My family
and this world is like a beautiful picture book
that we all see differently. In my house is where
I learn what it means to see diversity and
appreciate it.
I transferred from a small private school
with little diversity. Everyone looked the same
and acted the same and this was not the best
place for me. I was the only black person at the
school and people thought I was rough, rude
and mean, because that’s what they thought
black people were like. I was a great model of
what all girls should be, not just black ones.
Loving, kind and respectful, is what got me
through those years at that school. Sometimes
it made me mad that they thought differently
of me in sports and in school. It was hard,
but my family and teachers gave me support.
I moved to Northdale middle school and this
school represents a lot of cultures. I feel good
in a place with so many differences. This is
the place that makes me feel good that I am
different. I am a leader at school to help 6th
graders fit in so that they don’t feel what I felt
when others did not see me for who I was. It
makes me feel good inside when I know that
a person is talking and laughing with people
they never thought they would talk to. I help
6th graders come out there shell. If we all come
out of our shells we will find out that our hearts
beat the same and the absence of fear gives us
the courage we need to accept and learn to like
diversity.
Skittles are one of my favorite candies.
The hard shell is only one part of this candy
with different flavors. Every time you open
the package, they proudly show the colors of
the rainbow. Every skittle is like a tiny person
special in there own way. They show me that
people are all different, but they can all be nice
and sweet.
All around the world there are many different
cultures; let’s start with my community, surrounded
with people from around the globe teaching me
things I am going to need in my lifetime, such as
how to make a mean pizza pie, and even stir fry.
Games that I can play through my adult years,
my favorite being Manacala, it is a game of mystery
with no background, proven to be real in the 4th
century, it has been played through the years enjoyed
by many people. Inspiring clothes with bright beads,
wonderful textures, and a story behind every piece
of clothing.
Amazing sitar Ravi Shankar is a very well
known Indian musician, his music danced into my
ears at an Indian restaurant when I was younger
and loved it ever since. Ravi’s music shows me a
part of the world that I never knew existed, I had
questions about the music that I knew someone in
my community had the answers.
Many people of many different cultures have
something to offer my community whether it is
food, games, clothes, or music everyone comes
together to share their cultures with others.
I think of the cultural experiences I have
encountered in my life and I am thankful for the
opportunity to be able to enjoy them. I am also
thankful for the opportunity to thank everyone
that brought their cultures to me so I could
enjoy them also.
Every individual culture has something to learn
from and explore new things. Though I do not know
everything of every culture I intend on learning. We
have yet to learn more about the cultures around us
but when we do the possibilities will be endless and
my desire to learn will thrive.
I love sharing my culture with my community,
the way me and my family live our lives, sharing and
teaching a part of the world others did not know
existed.
Living in my community for as long as I have,
I learn about things I am not familiar with and want
to learn more, creating memories I will never forget.
Understanding the way of people’s cultures and
living it for ourselves is a way to understand and
respect the cultures in my community.
Food, games, clothes, and music is not the
only things I learned in the several years in my
community. I learned new ways to communicate
with others around me, though I am not good
at speaking all languages. “Es algo que me siento
muy orgulloso,” what does that mean? It means
“it is something I am very proud of.” Spanish is a
language I will use frequently in my life.
“Merci d’avoir ecoute un jour merveilleux,”
what does that mean? It is French for “thank you for
listening and have a wonderful day.”
When one looks in a dictionary, they might see
diversity defined as “the state or quality of being
different or varied”. That is only the simple definition
of diversity. What makes diversity important to
many communities is its more complex significance.
Diversity is our window to the rest of the world,
because we see many different cultures, traditions,
and people every day. It is what makes all of us
unique. A lack of diversity would hinder inventions,
the justice system, and the meeting of basic needs.
One may ask, “Why is diversity important?”
There are many answers to that, several of which
are simpler than they may appear. If there were no
diversity in the world, we would all be the same,
and nothing would ever change. People would look
alike, talk alike, and think alike. Many things would
never have been invented if it weren't for the fact
that people are indeed different. Variance is what
makes communities interesting. Let's think about it
this way: if no one thought differently than anyone
else, the computer would never have been invented,
and I wouldn't be able to type this sentence, because
the technology to do so would not exist. Neither
would the paper upon which it is printed.
On a more local level, crime could, or could
not, be a problem. There would be either no
crime, or everyone would be committing crimes.
In both scenarios, there would technically be no
such thing as crime, because there would be no
one to determine whether actions are against the
law or not. For that matter, there would be no
laws at all. If there are no laws, there would also
be no need for police officers to enforce them,
nor judges to interpret them. The entire justice
system would disappear due to lacking diversity.
It would be hard to have basic needs met if
there was no diversity. All of the entire world would
be one profession, so certain needs would be unable
to be met. For example, if the world was full of
farmers, there would be no one to make us shelter.
But if everyone made shelters, who would supply us
with food? It would be difficult to have no diversity,
and yet maintain life. Even if everyone could meet
every basic need, they may not be able to refine their
technique, in order to make things better, because
for one person to gain, everyone must gain. The
positive side of this, however, is there would be no
poor people... but there would also be no rich.
Dictionary definitions don't imply the
consequences of living in a world lacking
diversity. Some things may be better, but many
things could be worse. Inventions, the justice
system, and the meeting of basic needs would be
made either more difficult, or even non-existent.
Our world today has grown out of diversity, and
it depends on diversity still. That is why diversity
is so important our community, and our world.

november | december 2010
Residents Receive Safety Services
Education at Annual Citizens Academy
The 2011 class of Citizens Academy recently
graduated, signifying the end of an eightweek
education in which Blaine residents
went behind the scenes to learn the ins and
outs of the Safety Services Department. The
24-person group is the ninth to complete the
annual hands-on course.
Participants met weekly for both classroom
and applied training to learn many of the skills
and methods used by firefighters, police officers
and community standards employees. This
exceptional behind-the-scenes access is intended
to allow residents an opportunity to understand
the vast inner workings of Safety Services while
also practicing some of the more glamorous –
albeit difficult – tasks of the department.
Several weeks of Citizens Academy
were spent at Fire Station 3 in Blaine and a
fire training site in Fridley participating in
firefighting activities with members of the
Spring Lake Park-Blaine-Mounds View Fire
Department. Included among the many
activities were: fire extinguisher training; fire
sprinkler tutorial; fire and arson investigation
lesson; firefighting apparatus and fire truck use
instruction; personal and protective equipment
familiarity; mock search and rescue and car fire
simulations; and vehicle extrication.
The Blaine Police Department also had
a major role in the academy. Officers led
training in such areas as use of force, alcohol
impairment detection and felony traffic
stops. Participants also received education in
weapons, crime prevention and clandestine
meth lab awareness. The police K-9 unit also
staged a demonstration.
The city’s Community Standards
Department also spent a session discussing fire
inspections, housing services and community
standards codes and procedures.
Dozens of members of the Blaine Police
Department, Blaine Community Standards
Department and SBM Fire Department
were instrumental in helping teach, train and
supervise participants at Citizens Academy.
Without them, and the enthusiasm of
residents to learn and partake, Citizens
Academy would not be possible.
Winter Parking Restrictions Begin Nov. 1
Along with the return of cold temperatures
comes winter parking restrictions. Keeping
streets clear enables snow plows to most
efficiently clean city roadways.
• No parking on any Blaine street between
the hours of 2 a.m. and 7 a.m. from Nov. 1
through April 1. Please note that there are
several posted signs regarding this parking
restriction throughout the city; however, a
sign is not posted on every city street.
• No parking on any highway, street or alley for
more than 12 hours after snow begins to fall.
Spring 2011 Turkey Hunt Approved
The City of Blaine has enacted a turkey bow
hunt for next spring. The hunt boundaries
match those established for the 2010 deer
archery season.
All state laws, city ordinances and rules
and regulations established by the Minnesota
Department of Natural Resources must be
followed, and no device except for bow and
arrow may be used. In addition, all hunters
must have in their possession written
permission from the landowner. Hunting is
prohibited on public lands in Blaine.
The 2011 spring turkey hunt will serve
as a trial and will be reevaluated in time for
the 2012 spring hunting season.
Senior Advisory
Council, Planning
Commission, Park
Board All Seeking
to Fill Vacancies
The City of Blaine is seeking interested
residents to fill vacancies on the Planning
Commission, Park Advisory Board and
Senior Advisory Council.
The Planning Commission reviews
and advises the City Council on longrange
community planning goals and
policies, immediate planning issues and
specific development proposals. Meetings
are scheduled the second Tuesday of each
month. The commission consists of seven
members appointed to two-year terms; the
city is currently seeking to one vacancy in
each council district – three seats in total.
The Park Advisory Board also
consists of seven members on two-year
terms. Board members recommend
policy related to the Parks and Recreation
Department to the City Council and city
manager. Four vacancies presently exist
on the board: one in each council district,
plus a chairperson who is selected atlarge.
Meetings are scheduled the fourth
Tuesday of each month.
The city is also seeking applicants to
fill two-year terms on the Senior Advisory
Council. The terms of 11 appointees expire
on Jan. 31, 2011. Persons interested in having
direct input into senior citizen programming
in Blaine are encouraged to consider serving
on the advisory council.
Commission and board vacancies
are filled by mayoral appointment and
confirmed by a majority of the City Council.
At least two committee members must
reside in each council district for the term
of their appointment for both the Planning
Commission and Park Advisory Board.
The mayor will make appointments
in February 2011. Applicants for all
commission and board vacancies must be
Blaine residents, and all applications are
due by the middle of November.
Applications for all committee vacancies are
available at www.ci.blaine.mn.us by searching
keyword vacancy or through the City Clerk’s
Office (763-785-6122 or 763-785-6124).
Completed applications can be dropped off at
City Hall, submitted via email to
jcross@ci.blaine.mn.us or mailed to:
Jane Cross, CMC, City Clerk
City of Blaine
10801 Town Square Drive
Blaine, MN 55449

RECREATION
CONNECTION
Blaine
Parks and Recreation
Winter/Spring 2011
www.blaineparks.com
Parks and Recreation Winter/Spring Recreation Connection
Parks and Recreation’s Winter/Spring 2011 Recreation Connection will not be mailed to
residents this season. Winter and spring program information and registration tools will be
online at www.blaineparks.com by Nov. 22.
A limited number of printed Recreation Connection brochures will be available at the Parks and
Recreation office during business hours. Call 763-785-6164 for more information.
Winter Holiday Celebration
Enjoy holiday activities at City Hall. Santa
will visit, but will not be available for
individual visits or photographs.
DATE: Monday, Dec. 6
TIME: 6:30 – 8 p.m.
FEE: FREE!
A Morning at the North Pole
Parent and child will enjoy a continental
breakfast, craft time and visit with
Santa as the City Hall atrium is
transformed into the North Pole.
DATE: Saturday, Dec. 4 OR
Saturday, Dec. 11
TIME: call for availability
FEE: $9
Community Outings
Check the winter/spring Recreation
Connection for more information.
Annual Christmas Party
Join us at St. Croix Casino Event Center
for our annual Christmas party. Enjoy a
show, delicious lunch and gambling time.
Register by Nov. 18.
DATE: Thursday, Dec. 2
TIME: 7:15 a.m. – 7 p.m.
FEE: $39
“All Shook Up” at Chanhassen
Dinner Theater
Show built around 26 of Elvis’ greatest hits.
Lunch included. Register by Dec. 21.
DATE: Wednesday, Jan. 12
TIME: 8:15 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
FEE: $81
The Marvelous Wonderettes
at Plymouth Playhouse
Enjoy this new pop hit musical with
favorite songs from the 50s and 60s.
Lunch included. Register by Jan. 25.
DATE: Wednesday, Feb. 9
TIME: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
FEE: $63
Springtime in the Carolinas
April 3-13. Head southeast to Atlanta,
Savannah, Charleston, Myrtle Beach and
other cities. Trip includes 10 nights of
accommodations and 14 meals. Call Parks
and Rec for a complete itinerary.
More information about Parks and
Recreation programs is available at
763-785-6164 or in the current Recreation
Connection online at www.blaineparks.com .
Parks & Rec Benefits from SHIP Grant
In a national effort to reduce chronic disease, the
Minnesota Department of Health has awarded
39 grants to Minnesota communities to help
lower the number of Minnesotans who use
tobacco or who are obese or overweight.
A $47 million appropriation for the Statewide
Health Improvement Program, also known as
SHIP, was given to 86 counties over two years
through grants and technical assistance. SHIP
is a portion of Minnesota’s health care reform
initiative that was signed into law in 2008.
Anoka County received $2,341,000 to
implement the SHIP program. The program
and its goals apply to four service sectors:
school, community, worksite and health care.
Blaine, Lino Lakes and Fridley were chosen as
grantees in Anoka County for the Community
Sector program. Per the Department of
Health, the goal for the Community Sector
City Website Offers
Virtual Tours of Parks
With funding secured from a state SHIP grant,
the Parks and Recreation Department is creating
virtual tours of several city parks for residents to
access on the city’s website.
Each virtual tour will consist of a standalone
module incorporated into the web page for a
particular park. The viewing window will show
a panoramic view from which users can pan
360 degrees and zoom in and out, allowing for
a view of park amenities like shelters, ball fields
and playgrounds.
Initially, the virtual tours will be available for
the following parks: Aquatore, Blaine Baseball
Complex, Happy Acres, Kane Meadows, Lakeside
Commons, Lakeside, Lochness, Trees Edge, Pioneer
and Town Square.
The virtual tours are expected to be viewable
in the Parks and Trails section of BlaineParks.com
by December.
portion of the grant is: To implement policies
and practices that creates active communities
by increasing opportunities for non-motorized
transportation (walking and biking) and access
to community recreation facilities.
The grant funding available to Blaine was
$23,500 from the onset of the program through
June 30, 2010, and another $50,000 from July
1, 2010 to June 30, 2011.
With SHIP Grant funding, the City of
Blaine has conducted a Get Active! walk/run,
Get Active! geocaching treasure hunt, Get
Active! bike ride and a free bike helmet and
fitting event.
The grant also provided funding for
the purchase canoes and kayaks for the new
Lakeside Commons Park. Other funds are being
used to make virtual tours of city marks (more
information below).
Se n i o r Sc e n e
Mary Ann Young Senior Center
9150 Central Ave. | 763-786-9375
Lutefisk & Swedish Meatball Dinner – Nov. 13
– ticket required
VOA Thanksgiving Meal – entertainment and
traditional turkey dinner – Nov. 16
Movie: Charlie St. Cloud – Nov. 18
Monthly Birthday Party – Nov. 24
Wii Bowling League Banquet – Nov. 30
Tree Trimming – decorate the senior center –
Dec. 2
VOA Holiday Meal – entertainment and
holiday meal – Dec. 14
McKinley Elementary Bulldog Choir –
singing holiday songs – Dec. 17
Movie: TBD – Dec. 23
Monthly Birthday Party – Dec. 29
New Year’s Party – entertainment and
refreshments – Dec. 30
The Mary Ann Young Senior Center offers a variety
of programs, social events and dining options on
weekdays. Call for more information and times or
learn more online. Visit www.ci.blaine.mn.us and
search keyword senior center.

november | december 2010
City Wins Award for Efforts to Improve
Water Quality and Combat Runoff
The City of Blaine recently received the
Minnesota Blue Star Award for its efforts
to protect local water quality and combat
stormwater runoff. The accolade, part of a
statewide program promoting city efforts
to promote clean water, recognizes Blaine’s
efforts to keep urban runoff from polluting
nearby lakes, streams and wetlands. Blaine
received a high score following an assessment
of stormwater management practices
administered by the Blue Star Award program.
The award program is sponsored by a
partnership among state agencies, watershed
districts, engineering firm Emmons and
Olivier Resources and non-profit group
Friends of the Mississippi River, and is
designed to measure cities on a wide range
of activities, from regulations to education
programs to good housekeeping measures.
Stormwater runoff is a leading source
of water pollution and excess surface runoff
to streams and lakes. Instead of percolating
naturally through soils and recharging ground
water, rainfall can be quickly deflected by
roads, parking lots, roofs and other impervious
surfaces. This can cause erosion of sensitive
stream channels and loss of habitat needed
by fisheries and their food web. Common
pollutants in stormwater runoff include trash,
bacteria, nutrients, pesticides, heavy metals,
salt, sediment and fuels.
To learn more about the city’s stormwater
practices, visit www.ci.blaine.mn.us and search
keyword stormwater .
Anoka County Compost Sites Accepting
Yard, Tree Waste Through November
Anoka County compost sites are open through
November, weather permitting.
Acceptable Materials
Yard Waste: debagged grass clippings, leaves,
garden waste, weeds, soft-bodied green plant
materials, pumpkins, pine cones and needles,
sod (small quantities) and acorns.
Fees: $4/load (up to four cubic yards).
Additional $0.50 per cubic yard in excess of
four cubic yards. (Approximately seven yarduse
waste bags are equal to one cubic yard.)
Tree Waste: brush, logs and stumps.
Fees: $6/cubic yard for brush up to 6” in
diameter; $10/cubic yard for branches/logs
6” to 24” in diameter; $40/cubic yard for
trunks/stumps over 2’ in diameter.
When available, finished compost may be
picked up at both sites on a first come, first
served basis (non-commercial use only). Bring
your own containers and shovel.
Bunker Hills Compost Site
13285 Hanson Boulevard, Coon Rapids
(763) 767-7964
Monday – Friday
10 a.m. – 7 p.m. (or sunset if earlier)
Saturday
Sunday
9 a.m. – 5 p.m. noon – 5 p.m.
Rice Creek Chain of Lakes
Compost Site
7701 Main Street, Lino Lakes
(651) 429-3723
Tuesday
10 a.m. – 7 p.m. (or sunset if earlier)
Thursday
10 a.m. – 7 p.m. (or sunset if earlier)
Saturday
9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday
noon – 5 p.m.
RRT Processing Solutions operates the Anoka
County compost sites. More information about
area compost sites is available from Anoka County
Integrated Waste Management at 763-323-5730
or www.AnokaCounty.us/recycle .
Right-of-Way Tree Trimming Begins
The Public Works Department will be
trimming trees in city right-of-ways
throughout winter as weather permits.
Detailed maps identifying where efforts
will be concentrated can be found online.
Public Works typically maintains a
minimum clearance of 13 feet for buses and
street maintenance equipment. Sidewalks
require a minimum clearance of eight feet.
More information about the city’s tree trimming
efforts, including maps showing specific street
locations of trimming activities, can be found
by visiting www.ci.blaine.mn.us and searching
keyword tree trim .
Monthly Recycling
at Aquatore Park
Each third Saturday of the month, the City of
Blaine sponsors a recycling drop-off program
in the parking lot of Aquatore Park.
The collection event is staged near the
Mary Ann Young Senior Center and recurs
the third Saturday of every month from 10
a.m. to 2 p.m.
Most appliances cost $10 each; air
conditioners and water softeners are $15.
Most electronics, including televisions, will
cost between $2 and $25, depending on size.
Tires and rechargeable batteries may also be
recycled for a small fee.
Free items include scrap metal, car
batteries, used clothing and all items collected
as part of the city’s curbside recycling
program. A free paper shedding service is
also available to shred sensitive documents.
Please note, no garbage will be accepted.
To learn more about the city’s recycling drop-off
program and for a list of acceptable items and
associated fees, call 763-785-6192 or
visit www.ci.blaine.mn.us and search
keyword recycle .
In Case of Sewer
Backup, Contact
Public Works
Residents experiencing 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.
During regular business hours, Blaine
Public Works can be reached at 763-785-6165.
Outside of business hours, call Anoka County
Dispatch at 763-427-1212 in order to notify
Blaine Public Works.
January Curbside
Tree Collection
Christmas trees will be collected curbside
on regular garbage days during the weeks
of Jan. 2 and Jan. 9 on regular garbage
days. Please remove all ornaments, lights,
tinsel, garland, wires, etc.

10801 Town Square Drive NE
Blaine, MN 55449-8101
(763) 784-6700
PRSRT STD
U.S. Postage PAID
Permit No. 32324
Minneapolis, MN
ECRWSS
POSTAL CUSTOMER
DATED MATERIAL
PREPARED BY THE OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
POSTMASTER: TIME SENSITIVE MAIL
Third Annual World Fest Rocks Town Square Park
Celebration of community’s diversity drew more than 900 residents
For the third consecutive year, residents packed into Town
Square Park for a one-of-a-kind celebration aimed at recognizing
Blaine’s growing cultural diversity. And for the third straight
year, visitors feasted on ethnic cuisine, enjoyed cultural song
and dance and learned about diverse ways of life from numerous
informational presentations.
In total, more than 900 people attended the 2010 Blaine World
Fest on Sept. 25. The day again was a delight to the senses, with
vivid colors of flags and costumes brightening the park and the
aroma of exotic foods wafting through the air. Music also provided
the perfect excuse for festival-goers of all ages to get up and dance.
The big draw of World Fest was, as always, the tremendous
entertainment on the stage of the park shelter. This
year featured 10 vastly different acts throughout the
afternoon, with performances of song and dance from
groups representing a multitude of cultures. The Blaine
Public Safety Association also hosted a demonstration
by the police department’s K-9 team as well as rides in
the basket of one of Spring Lake Park-Blaine-Mounds
View Fire Department’s ladder trucks.
As for food, attendees had no shortage of
delicious choices. Nine area restaurants were
serving food at the festival, with numerous ethnic
meals available to ensure no one went home on an
empty stomach.
Although the party featured plenty of entertainment
and food, it also centered on fostering awareness of different
cultures through informational learning exhibits. Twelve
different groups were on hand with displays and games to
help build familiarity and understanding. Additionally, a new
wrinkle to World Fest this year encouraged even more resident
interaction and further reflection of the goal of the event; an
essay contest for youth pushed young people to consider the
importance of diversity in their community. Winning essays
are printed on page 4 of this newsletter.
When the event ended after four hours of fun, it was again
clear the day had been a complete success. The goal of celebrating
differences and building community had again
been achieved.
Blaine World Fest is made possible, in
part, by funds provided by the Metropolitan
Regional Arts Council through a grant from the
McKnight Foundation and an appropriation by
the Minnesota Legislature.
Sponsors, local businesses, volunteers and
residents in attendance also deserve recognition
for making World Fest a sensational event in
which the entire community can take pride.
More information about Blaine World Fest is available from
Tom Godfrey at tgodfrey@ci.blaine.mn.us .
Thank you to the sponsors who made Blaine World Fest possible:
GOLD SPONSORS: Chili’s; John’s Auto Parts; Manning Transfer Inc.; New Horizon Academy; Northpark Dental;
North Metro TV; Sharper Homes; Target; Walmart. SILVER SPONSORS: Allegra - Blaine; Minnesota School of Business.
BRONZE SPONSORS: Applebee’s - Northtown; Print Central; Subway - Town Sqaure, Blaine.