PROGRAMS
On March 1, Pat Ogrin, Outreach and Sales Director of the new Willows Bend Senior Living in Fridley shared information relating to various options for senior living such as Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care, and Nursing Care. He covered what was included and not included in each level and the cost ranges at his complex. Member Norma Jean Falink finished with some information about Senior Coop Living.
On March 8, Kim Tillberry, chair of the Springbrook Nature Center Foundation, explained the foundation’s mission to enhance the visitor experiences at the nature center, which is a Fridley city park and facility, and provided a brief history of Springbrook’s beginnings from the 70’s. It still operates today with 14 volunteer board members. Currently the board is seeking five additional volunteers to fill the open seats to reach a maximum of 19, and encouraged members to consider joining. Maneesh Shrivastav, chair of Springbrook’s committee for the annual Spring Spree fundraiser event to be held April 15th from 5-8 pm at the nature cente, spoke about the upcoming fundraiser to raise funds to redo the Nature Based Play Area. The goal this year is to improve and enhance the hands on experiences in this part of the facilities.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Pollination Committee met on Tuesday, March 7 at 7:30 a.m. on Zoom. Members Amáda Márquez Simula, Mike Oakley, and chair Kristen Stuenkel were joined by Wes Nugteren of Columbia Heights High School’s Blooming Heights garden program and Neil Granlund of HeightsNEXT Community Foundation. Simula announced that the first installment, $2400.00, of the recently-awarded grant from the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization is in hand. The grant project to enhance pollination at Lomianki Park in Columbia Heights will begin in April. Future plantings at HeightsNEXT’s Blooming Sunshine Garden at the park were discussed. The city of Columbia Heights has been notified that the Rotary-themed bench at the park would be installed in 2024. Nugteren noted that the Little Free Seed & Produce Library at Blooming Heights is built.
REMINDERS
The Pollination Committee will meet next on Tuesday, April 4 at 7:30 a.m. on Zoom. The Zoom link is https://colheights-k12-mn-us.zoom.us/j/86557933324. Contact organizer Kristen Stuenkel with any questions at stuenkek@colheights.k12.mn.us.
The club board meets next on Wednesday, April 5 at 9 a.m. at Fridley Community Center. Members are welcome to attend.
The STRIVE students will visit Hennepin Technical College and the adjacent Law Enforcement Training Academy in the spring. Members are invited to accompany the group. Contact Steve Klaers at 612-599-8103 if planning to attend.
Craig Malm will be seeking volunteers this spring to help distribute 160 bikes collected by Allina Health to students at Stevenson Elementary in Fridley.
Save The Dates: Social Committee Scott Lund has supplied a date, April 25, for the spring mystery evening outing. Details TBA. The annual district 5960 conference is scheduled for April 29, 2023, a joint conference with Districts 5580 (northern Minny and NoDak) and 5950 at Madden’s Golf Resort on Gull Lake in Brainerd. Registration is now open.
Additional mentors for Fridley STRIVE students are sought, and potential mentors next year at Columbia Heights High School are encouraged to attend the ongoing mentor meetings with Fridley STRIVE students. Contact Steve Klaers at 612-599-8103.
Rotary International produces podcasts on various subjects, available at https://on.rotary.org/3VnjizH.
UPCOMING PROGRAMS: March 15- Dave Rudolph of Southern Anoka Community Assistance will provide an update.
