The CW is hosting its 2nd annual "Free to be Green" campaign on 9/20 in the Como Park Zoo from 10-4. This event is an effort bring a more ecological friendly approach to our day to day activities. They will also be providing conservation tips for everyone there so everyone can do their part. This event is bothinteractive for adults as well as kids (our future).
TEN THINGS TO DO TO HELP THE ENVIRONMENT
* CHANGE A LIGHT – replacing 1 regular light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb will save 150 pounds of carbon dioxide a year
* DRIVE LESS, DRIVE EASY – Walk, bike, carpool or take mass transit more often. Drive easy by staying within the speed limits, this can greatly increase your gas mileage while lightening the load on the environment
* REDUCE, REUSE, THEN RECYCLE – Take Recycling even further! You can reduce waste and reuse a lot of stuff
* CHECK YOUR TIRES – Keeping your tires inflated properly can improve gas mileage by more than 3%
* USE LESS HOT WATER – Install a low flow showerhead (350 pounds of CO2 per year) and wash your clothes in cold or warm water (500 pounds saved per year)
* DO FULL LOADS – Whether it’s clothes or dishes, wait until the load is full to wash. It will save you some extra work too!
* SUPPORT LOCAL FARMERS – Not only will you keep money in our community, it will reduce the distance our food has to travel to market. * CHERISH EVERY DROP – Install water saving devices and fix leaks. Use a rainwater barrel to help stop runoff, reduce flooding, and prevent pollution from getting into the stormwater system.
* SLOW THE FLOW OF UNWANTED MAIL – reduce your collection of junk mail by registering with the Direct Marketing Association’s free Mail Preference System
* BUY THE BAG Grocery shoppers use nearly 40 billion bags each year. Most are only used once* and recycled or thrown away.
Japanese Lantern Lighting Festival - Como Park Zoo
Posted by Shawn Hartmann under For Buyers, For Sellers, Regional News, Como Park
Japanese Lantern Lighting Festival
The Como Park Japanese Lantern Lighting Festival is Sunday,
August 17, 2008.
Gates open at 3:00pm ~ Entertainment begins at 3:30pm
Lantern lighting will begin at dusk
Free shuttle bus service from Midway Stadium starting at 2:30pm
Admission is $5.00 for adult, $3.00 for children
Taiko drums, martial arts, Ikebana, sushi and other aspects of Japanese culture, will be featured at the annual Como Park Japanese Lantern Lighting Festival, a family-friendly event, reminiscent of Japan's annual Obon holiday, on Sunday, August 17, 2008 on the grounds of the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory in Como Park.
Obon is an important Japanese cultural and family holiday, at which ancestral spirits are said to revisit their families for three days. Families pay their respects at gravesites and put out offerings of food and drink on a tray before household alters. They also light lanterns or small fires outside the house to symbolically guide the souls to the home. On the last evening of Obon, lanterns again guide the spirits back to their resting places.
The theme of this year's event is ‘The Element of Tea". Tea is a customary drink worldwide. In Asian countries, drinking tea is an ancient tradition accompanied by a highly developed tea-based culture which is tied to art and local customs. Japanese tea ceremony is one of the representative arts of Japan. This elaborate and philosophical art form is highly ritualized and is characterized by simplicity of movement. In this respect, the art of tea brings calm to the spirit and it is intended to prepare the server and the recipient for conversation and peaceful communication. The tea ceremony may be practiced anywhere, at home, in a public place, or in a teahouse.
The Lantern Lighting Festival encompasses Japanese tradition-through music, dance, crafts, martial arts and lanterns. The Marjorie McNeely Conservatory grounds will open at 3 p.m., and live entertainment in the Como Ordway Memorial Japanese Garden and on the main stage will begin at 3:30p.m. Entertainment will include several taiko drumming groups, koto (Japanese sitar), shakuhachis (bamboo flutes), traditional and contemporary dance and singing. Martial arts, Ikebana (Japanese flower arranging), origami demonstrations, kites and a host of other cultural exhibits and demonstrations will line several paths through the grounds. Japanese food and dozens of culturally-related items will be for sale. A traditional kimona will also be raffled off.
The day will culminate at dusk with the main event-the lantern lighting. Six stone lanterns and floating paper lanterns throughout the Japanese garden pond and the Frog Pond will create a vision of peacefulness and harmony to commemorate the dead.
The Como Park Japanese Lantern Lighting Festival, produced by Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, Japan America Society of Minnesota, and Saint Paul Nagasaki Sister City Committee will be held on Sunday, August 17, 2008 from 3:00pm-9:00pm. Admission is $5.00 per adult (13+), $3.00 per child (3-12) and free for under 3 years of age. Free shuttle bus service from Midway Stadium.
About the Como Ordway Memorial Japanese Garden
The Japanese Garden opened in 1979 with funds donated by the family of Mrs. John G. Ordway. Mr. Masami Matsuda, a ninth-generation Master Gardener, designed the garden in the chisen-kaiya (strolling pond) style as a gift from Sister City Nagasaki. In 1990-1991, Matsuda supervised a complete renovation of the site, adding a teahouse and roji (tea garden). The Garden stays true to its Japanese traditions, using the elements of rock, water and plants to create a tranquil environment that guests are invited to experience from many angles.
The Como Ordway Memorial Japanese Garden is the second Japanese garden to grace Como Park. The first was created in 1904 and disappeared from the Park Commission reports in 1909. The four white granite lanterns in the current garden are originals of the 1904 tea garden.
Good Morning! Here is the quick Monday Morning Market update for Roseville MN, Falcon Heights and Lauderdale. Which Is MLS district 702. It is the entire zip code of 55113.
| 17-Mar-08 | 24-Mar-08 | 31-Mar-08 | |
| Active SFH | 144 | 134 | 144 |
| Active Other | 69 | 70 | 70 |
| Total | 213 | 204 | 214 |
| Pending SFH | 13 | 21 | 20 |
| Pending other | 7 | 7 | 6 |
| Total | 20 | 28 | 26 |
| %of SFH Under Con | 8.28% | 13.55% | 12.20% |
| % of total Under Con | 8.58% | 12.07% | 10.83% |
tips for sellers: You will notice that the amount of homes available jumped back up to 144 this week. We did see a good supply of quality homes enter the market place, most priced very competitively. Roseville market place remains stable with inventory absorption rate hanging just over 9 months, which is not bad, all things considered. ( months is still heavily weighted in the buyers favor (5 to 7 is considered a balanced market). Key tip, price your homes accurately against competing properties, be excellent with condition and presentation, your home WILL sell!
Buyer Tips: Lucky You! selection is awesome right now in Roseville and sellers, that are serious about selling, have priced their homes for you to buy. We have seen 2 incidences of multiple offers this week just on our team. This is re-affirming what we already know- The best homes that are conditioned and priced accurately are selling immediately. Be prepared to make a very strong offer if you find the home you are dreaming of, chances are someone else has it as their dream home too!
Interesting Note: in the twin Cities right now, 7 out of 10 homes listed do not sell in during their initial listing period, 3 out of 10 DO SELL, and seem to sell quickly. And less than 10% (1 out of 10) of all active inventory is pending at any given time. Make your home a top 10 home and you wiil be a hppy seller and there will be a happy buyer!
See you next week! Thanks for reading!
Shawn Hartmann
Keller Williams Roseville
Good Morning! Here is the quick Monday Morning Market update for Roseville MN, Falcon Heights and Lauderdale. Which Is MLS district 702. It is the entire zip code of 55113.
| 17-Mar-08 | 24-Mar-08 | |
| Active SFH | 144 | 134 |
| Active Other | 69 | 70 |
| Total | 213 | 204 |
| Pending SFH | 13 | 21 |
| Pending other | 7 | 7 |
| Total | 20 | 28 |
| %of SFH Under Con | 8.28% | 13.55% |
| % of total Under Con | 8.58% | 12.07% |
Notes from MAR 24th:
Seller tips: although you are heading in the right direction here, its only a one week sampling. I have noticed he homes that are selling are homes that are perceived as a VALUE to the smaller pool of buyers that are looking right now. The good news is that buyers appear to be back in the market! Its a great time for them to buy.
Buyer tips: You will notice that the surface of the playing field shifted back somewhat toward the sellers. I personally expect this to continue throughout the spring. Be ready to make a strong offer when you find the home you think is the best for the money. You can be sure someone else is thinking the same thing!
See you next week
Shawn Hartmann
Keller Williams Roseville
Our team is excited to be hosting another Open House tour inside Como Park this weekend. Four homes will be open from 12-4 on Sunday March 16, 2008.
The homes featured will be (copy and paste into Google for a map):
980 Victoria Street North, St. Paul, MN 55103
1109 Chatsworth Street North, St. Paul, MN 55103
1576 Alameda Street North, St. Paul, MN 55117
815 Idaho avenue, St. Paul, MN 55117
visit www.hartmannteam.com for more info on the homes!
We will be giving away free inspections to all unrepresented buyers that see all four homes and choose our team to help them find their next home!!
We hope to see you there! Please mention this blog post when you say Hi!
Shawn
If you are looking to sell your home in the next 30 days, I can help! If you are looking to buy a home under market value, I can help! Real Estate is not only my career but also my passion.
ActiveRain Corp. is not responsible for the accuracy of the site's content (which is written by members of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network) and does not endorse the views of the real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and others listed here.
Powered by the ActiveRain Real Estate Network
© 2009 ActiveRain Corp. All Rights Reserved
