News from the City of Lake Elmo
October 12,  2018
Meetings next week:  

 
 
 
 
Monday, October 15th: Parks Commission Meeting 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, October 16th: City Council Meeting 7:00 p.m.


Links to the 2018 City Meetings, Agendas and Meeting Minutes: 

City Meetings
 
                                                                               

10/15 - Parks Commission Meeting Agenda

10/16 - City Council Meeting Agenda

Lake Elmo City Council Candidates Forum

The  Stillwater Gazette  is sponsoring a Lake Elmo City Council candidates forum on Tuesday, Oct. 23 from 7 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. at Lake Elmo City Hall. The forum will also be recorded and simulcast by the cable commission.

Marguerite "Margot" Rheinberger, Stillwater, is a co-organizer and will again be moderating this forum for our city. 


For additional information please contact co-organizer Beth Johnson, Oak Park Heights, at  johnsonbeth@comcast.net.  
CSAH 15 (Manning Ave.) & CSAH 14 Construction Update

Project Schedule

Last Week:
  • Road base construction west of Manning Avenue continued.
  • Storm sewer installations on Manning Avenue continued on.
  • Sub-grade prep and pond work was completed on Manning Avenue.
This Week:
  • Storm sewer work on Manning Avenue will continue on this week.
  • Roadway work will continue on the new alignment of CSAH 14.
  • Crews will work on turf establishment.

Upcoming Work:
  • Storm sewer work on Manning Avenue is anticipated to be complete next week. Crews will then work to finish all remaining storm sewer installations on CSAH 14.
  • Crews will work on building slopes and ditches for the next couple weeks.
Now Hiring Firefighters!

The Lake Elmo Fire Department is looking for paid-on-call firefighters.  If you are interested please fill out the application below.  


Completed applications can be mailed to:
City of Lake Elmo
Attn: Jake Foster, Assistant City Administrator
3880 Laverne Ave. N., Lake Elmo MN

or emailed to: jfoster@lakeelmo.org



"A Ghastly and Dreadful Sight", Lake Elmo's Resident Boogeyman

Headlines read:

"A BLOODY TRAGEDY

A MAN KILLS HIS WIFE

AND HIS FOUR CHILDREN

LAYS THEM OUT ON THE FLOOR"

Quoting the April 8, 1869 St. Paul Pioneer Newspaper, 

" This community was startled yesterday with rumors concerning a dreadful murder which was reported to have been perpetrated early in the morning, in the township of Oakdale, on the Stillwater road, near what is known as the Half-Way House, about nine miles from St. Paul, by an insane man named James Gray."

Over time, such shocking events as this take on their own identity. The eye witnesses die or move on, records of the events are lost or destroyed with passing time, gravestones wither beyond recognition and buildings disappear to be replaced with other uses of the land, or by other structures as the land passes from owner to owner. Over time, even the location of events fade. What remains are creative yarns passed from generation to generation until what remains are fanciful tales. In this instance, a tale is thick with foreboding and dread.

This is one such story. It has been passed through generations of local residents. James Gray became a local boogeyman for children. Neighbor Raleigh Armstrong would tell his nephew Tom, with a twinkle in his eye, to be careful when out of the house at night - Gray's ghost could still be roaming the fields with his ax. The Armstrong farm was about a mile from the scene of the murders.

With Halloween only a couple weeks away, it is a time to reflect on such tales from our city's past. A century and a half ago, this was current history. It now takes it place as an episode from Lake Elmo's past.


Sources: Memories of Lake Elmo, collected and authored by Gloria VanDemmeltraadt and The History of Oakdale Township, Volume 1.

(This is a picture of a frontier home similar to that occupied by the Gray family in 1869. The entire family lived in a 20x16 foot log structure. Alice Gray, aged 33, (formerly Alice Farley) together with her children; Margaret, aged nine; James B. Jr., aged eight; David, five years old, and Nellie Jane, age three were victims of this violent crime. Photo by Rolf Larson.)

Smart Travel Events at the Library

Washington County Library wants to help you pack your brain before you pack your bags with the Smart Travel series this fall. The Smart Travel series features knowledgeable presenters who will share their tips, tricks, and tidbits about a variety of travel topics: home security, Disney trip planning, exploring Italy, or journeying as a Road Scholar. Smart Travel presentations will take place at Washington County Library branch locations through December. To see the complete series list on the WashCoLib calendar, visit WashCoLib.Link/SmartTravel.






Smart Travel: Learning and More with Road Scholar 
Tuesday, October 16, from 6 - 7 p.m.
 
Join us for a lively, open discussion of the many programs offered by Road Scholar. Not-for-profit Road Scholar's mission is to inspire adults to learn, discover, and travel. Our learning adventures engage expert instructors, provide extraordinary access, and stimulate dialogue and friendship among people for whom learning is the journey of a lifetime. Newcomers will walk away with knowledge of the breadth and depth of learning adventures available to them in the U.S. and abroad. Our presenter, Mari Bongiovanni has been an active Road Scholar traveler since 2005.
Upcoming Events at the Sally Manzara Interpretive Nature Center

Senior Walk, Talk, and Snack 
Every Monday 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM  

Fall Cleaning Day
October 11, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM.  Come help get the nature center ready for winter.  A light lunch will be served at noon

Art in the Park Weekend
October 13 & 14, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
See various local artists making artwork in various media, purchase objects of art.  Display of greeting cards with photography from the park, local crafters, woodworker and leaf pressing and more.  Children's art room.

Multimedia art class with Julie Schroeder
Sunday October 14th 10:00 AM 
Class fee and additional details to be announced. There is still room for more artists. Call Connie at: 651-491-3853      
                                                                                                                        
Buckthorn Removal
Saturday, October 13th 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Fall/Winter Outdoor Floral Arrangement Workshop given by Carla Ryan. 
October 16th  Two sessions.  10:00 AM - 12:00 PM and 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM.  Create a fall/winter arrangement for your front step or patio.  Bring your own container/flowerpot.  Greens and decorations will be furnished.  Preregistration required. Class Fee $29. Additional charges for some decorations or for the purchase of a flowerpot.  For more information on how to enroll, go to www.sminc-lake-elmo.org.


Upcoming Event: Buckthorn Festival - Conquer the mighty buckthorn! - November 10th Team competition, buckthorn games, food, music and more. Watch the website www.sminc-lake-elmo.org for further details.


Night Owl Family hike planned for Lake Elmo Park Reserve Oct. 23

Night Owl Family Hike is planned for 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 23, at the Lake Elmo Park Reserve.

The group will begin at the Nordic Center for evening family hikes along lit trails in the park reserve.

Dress for the weather and uneven trails. The program is free with a vehicle park permit, $7 daily or $30 annually. No reservations are required.

The park is at 1515 Keats Ave. in Lake Elmo. For more information, email parks@co.washington.mn.us or call 651-430-8370.


LEAVES + STREETS = Scummy lakes and wetlands

Got a small yard? Rake and bag leaves from your yard, sidewalk and driveway.

Got a big yard? Rake areas directly under trees and then use your mower to mulch the rest of the leaves into the grass.

Got a street? Rake and bag leaves along the curb and on top of stormdrain inlets.

It is illegal to dump leaves in your regular garbage or into wetlands, buffers or gullies.
 
Drop off leaves at:
 
Composting Concepts (4600 Cottage Grove Dr., Woodbury)
Mon.-Sat.. 8am-6pm (before Nov. 3); 8am-5pm (Nov. 5-21)
$1.50 per 30gal bag or $7 per yard
*Seniors get 50% off on Wednesdays
 
Rumpca (95th and Glendenning Rd, Cottage Grove)
M-F, 7am-7pm and Sat., 8am-5pm
$1 per 30gal bag or $6 per yard