Attention Apple Valley Area Residents!

There will be a Home and Garden show on Saturday, April 6th! This event will feature over 100 vendors from the area, representing many different companies and proffessions. Also, there will be animals from the MN Zoo, plenty of activities for the kids, free ice cream, and free seminars! Come to this Home and Garden show for free, no addmission charge! For more information about this event click here.

Summer is Just Around the Corner!

An early spring means an early summer! That means it's time to start thinking about the water again! District 196 Community Education is offering swimming lessons and competitive swimming classes for all ages. They offer caring and dedicated Red-Cross trained instructors in order to offer you and your children the best possible service in a friendly environment. Click here for more information about District 196 Community Education swimming lessons.

District 196 also offers open swim events scheduled until the end of march! These open swim events are going to be located either at Scott Highlands Middle School or Black Hawk Middle School. For more information and specific times click here.

Are you an advanced swimmer? District 196 has a class for that as well! They offer training for grades 3 and up who are interested in competitive swimming. Adult fitness classes are available as well triathlon training! If you would like more information on competitive swimming click here.

Events This Week!

• This week in Rosemount there will be a free movie in Central Park. On August 4, at 11pm.

• Every Sunday from 8am-1pm until October 28, Savage will be hosting their farmers market. Vendors set up shop to sell their fresh vegetables, fruits, flowers and more. It is located in the Parking lot in downtown Savage, off 123rd Street.

• Lakefront Days starts August 1st in Prior Lake. Lakefront Days is a four-day gathering of activities that features large groups of people converging on Lakefront Park. There are activities for the whole family to enjoy. Download the event schedule here!

• There will be Music at Kelley Park (Apple Valley Featuring Steve Sullivan and the Factory on August 3rd from 6p-9pm. Food and beverages are available for purchase at the concert. Drawings for bicycles and a guitar are scheduled for each concert!

Rosemount Leprechaun Days

Rosemount's annual festival begins on Friday, June 20th and runs through June 29th.  Leprechaun Days has existed in some form since the 1950s and has developed into a wonderful community event with many family-friendly activities.  The Leprechaun theme was chosen to honor the many original settlers of Rosemount that came from Ireland.

Highlights of the 10 day festival  include the Bluegrass Americana Festival in Central Park which includes a farmer's market, Rib Feast, bands, and children's entertainment, the Grand Day Parade and fireworks.  The Leprechaun's Lost Medallion Hunt begins July 23rd with the first clue at 9 AM and has a $500 cash prize.  There are also numerous tournaments such as whiffle ball, golf and basketball. Younger children will enjoy the puppet show, hula hoop contest, petting zoo, Trike, Big Wheel and Scooter Races and kiddie parade.  Here is a full calendar of events.

The City of Rosemount is located 15 miles south of the Twin Cities bordered by the Mississppi River.  It has a rapidly growing population with hundreds of homes under development.  It boast 23 parks, a Community Center, award winning schools and a vibrant business community. 

Rosemount Park and Ride

Do you work Downtown Minneapolis or St. Paul? Would you like to relax on your way to work? The Park and Ride located in Rosemount is a great way to go! It is located at the Rosemount Community Center, 1355 South Robert Trail, Rosemount, MN 55068. Buses: 476, 478 and 420 by reservation. The cost is less expensive than the parking ramps downtown. Some of the prices are: Adult (13-64) non-rush hour $1.75 local & $2.25 Express and rush hour $2.25 Local & $3.00 Express while it can be $25.00 a day in ramps and lots downtown. Other locations of park and rides are as follows: Apple Valley Transit Station, 155^th Street and Cedar Avenue; 157^th Street Station, 155^th Street and Pilot Knob Road; Blackhawk Park and Ride, Cliff Road and Blackhawk Road and Palomino Hills Park and Ride, Pennock Avenue south of Palomino Drive. For more information go to http://www.mvta.com/.

Holz Farm

Have you ever wondered how a farm is run? Find out for yourself! The Holz Farm in Eagan is doing just that! Holz Farm is located at 4665 Manor Drive. It is an 80 acre parcel from the 1870’s. The property remained in the family until 1993 with the passing of Otto and Ella Holz. In 1995 Eagan City Council Members purchased the land for residential developments in Eagan. The farm bridges Eagan’s past and present, old and young and rural and urban communities. The farm shows family life from the Great Depression through World War II. This farm provides educational, cultural and historic resources. This is a beautiful picturesque farm which offers a unique opportunity to experience rural life as it once existed in Eagan! For people who want to learn more about the Holz Farm there has been a booklet created called “A Walking Tour of Holz Farm” to read.




Holz Farm Events

Garden Plant Sale, May 12

Spring Festival, May 20

Lone Oak Days, September 22 & 23

Old Fashioned Holiday, December 2

Holz Farm Camp and A Day at the Farm experiences for youth are available during the summer months.



Friends of the Farm

Friends of the Farm, a non-profit land stewardship organization staffed by volunteers, is dedicated to cultivating an appreciation of farm life at Holz Farm. This non-profit organization plans and conducts a wide variety of events that provide educational, entertaining, historical and cultural perspectives appealing to a wide range of interests and ages.

Coffee With A Cop

Have you ever wanted to know the difference between a DUI and DWI? How about the exact speed limit a person can drive over before obtaining a speeding ticket? You can! Rosemount’s Community Spirit continues this year with "Coffee with a Cop" that is hosted by the Rosemount Police Department. People of the community who have any questions or concerns can visit coffee shops around Rosemount and have a cup of coffee along with a nice friendly chat with a local police officer. People can learn about daily life behind the badge as well. The "Coffee with a Cop" series begins Thursday, April 26th at 8:30am. The location schedule is as follows:

First Thursday of the month: Morning Glory's

Second Thursday: Starbucks
Third Thursday: Caribou
Fourth Thursday: Suzie's Kitchen

Got Questions? Contact the Rosemount Police Department at 651-423-4491

Rosemount Skate Park & BMX Park

Rosemount Skate Park has a permanent location at Schwarz Pond Park. The park has new grind boxes, grind rails, launch boxes, and quarter-and a half pipes for the skaters to show their talents. Some of the features are anchored down by their own weight while other ones, which are lighter, are secured by cement. Rules are posted at the park suggesting skaters to wear helmets, knee and elbow pads for their safety. Garbage receptacles are placed at the park with the hopes to keep the park clean. The park is open during regular hours of 6 am to 10 pm. The park is located at 13787 Dodd Boulevard with access to the park from Connemara Trail west of Highway 3.

District 196 Magnet School and K-Plus Applications for 2012-2013

Is your family applying for enrollment in District 196 elementary magnet schools or K-Plus programs for the 2012-2013 school year? Elementary students in District 196 can apply to any of the district's  three elementary magnet schools, Cedar Park Elementary Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) School in Apple Valley, Diamond Path Elementary School of International Studies in Apple Valley and Glacier Hills Elementary School of Arts and Science in Eagan.  One-hour tours will be given at the three magnet schools at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. on January 10th and 11th.  Enrollment is determined by lottery and there are space restrictions at each school and each grade level.  

Kindergarten Plus (K-Plus) is District 196's optional, fee-based, full-day program that complements the district's half-day kindergarten program. Morning and afternoon sessions are taught by a licensed kindergarten teacher, resulting in a cohesive, all-day experience for students.  Information nights for  K-Plus are being held at  6:30-8 p.m.; January 3rd at Red Pine Elementary and January 5th at Echo Park Elementary.

Application forms for both programs are available at all elementary schools, the district website and District Office.  Applications are due by January 20th at 4 p.m.

$1 Million in Grants From the Met Council to Apple Valley, MN

The Metropolitan Council awarded $9 million in grants in 2011 from the Livable Communities Act Grant Program. The city of Apple Valley, MN received more than $1 million of these grants for development projects including pedestrian trails to the Apple Valley Transit Station, park improvements and 30 affordable senior housing units.  The nearby community of Rosemount, MN also received a grant for the Steeple Center development project. Here is more information on the projects. 

Looking for Activities To Enjoy With Your Baby?

I feel fortunate to live in an area that offers some good programs for families. I have tried three programs for me and my infant daughter through School District 196 Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) and intend to continue to participate. Their Aquatics program offers swim lessons for ages 6 months to 36 months. I liked being able to swim with my daughter and help her get comfortable in the water for a reasonable cost. We took eight 30 minute lessons for $54 at the indoor pool at Scott Highlands Middle School in Apple Valley. It was a small group of parents with their babies and a very friendly instructor. My little girl was 9 months old at the time and only cried when we had to get out of the pool to give you any indication of how much fun she had at the classes.

We also attended the baby shower sponsored by ECFE. All parents with children born in the last year were invited to attend at no cost with their baby. I received an overview of the early education program, played a few games and even received a gift bag with presents for the baby including a rattle, blanket, PJs and a book. It was so good to meet other parents with a baby around the same age and to see everyone interact with their child.

Last week I took my daughter to the family playtime. She enjoyed "playing" (she is now 11 months old and mostly walked around delivering toys to the other parents and trying to kiss the babies). There is a wide array of toys, costumes, books and activities. I really liked meeting the other parents in an informal setting. The teachers seem to enjoy what they do. I think I'll try one of their classes next.

If you want to check out these activities or any other ones offered by ECFE, here is the 2011/12 winter catalog .