Free trees available
thru Reforest Rolla
pilot program
If
you are a Rolla resident, and you haven’t yet placed an order for a free tree
through the Reforest Rolla program,
now is the time to do so. After a mailing of 9,200 Reforest Rolla brochures to
all Rolla households that includes an entry form to order a free tree, time is
running out before the first order is placed.
“We
received a great response so far from residents requesting a free tree,” said
Anne McClay, Project Coordinator in the City’s Public Works Department. “But we
still have a few trees available, and we want to get the word out that we will place
our final order for the year in about a week.”
The
Reforest Rolla program offers free
trees to homeowners within the corporate limits of Rolla. An individual may
request more than one tree, however due to the popularity of the program, only
one will be planted per year. Three types of trees are offered with three
varieties of each; flowering trees, shade trees and “fall color” trees. The
trees must be placed on public right-of-way unless a waiver is provided. The
City of Rolla will provide and plant the trees twice a year, in the fall and
spring, following an inspection of the desired planting location. The property
owner will then agree to adopt the tree for the first two years of its life,
providing water, maintenance and required pruning.
Spearheaded
by the City of Rolla’s Engineering Division in the Public Works Department, the
Reforest Rolla program will eventually lead to a comprehensive management plan
to preserve and care for our tree resources, and will reduce the amount of
storm water runoff and erosion by “recycling” rainfall through absorption and
evaporation.
To
order your free tree, please contact Anne McClay at 426-6955. For tree specific
information, please visit www.rollacity.org/reforest.
Celebration of Nations
set for Sept. 29
in downtown Rolla
‘One
campus. One community. One world’ is the theme of the ever popular Celebration
of Nations scheduled for this Saturday, Sept. 29 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in
downtown Rolla.
Now
in its third year, the Celebration of Nations was created
to promote awareness, understanding and the celebration of the vibrant cultural
diversity that makes Rolla unique to the Ozarks. The colorful and vibrant
Celebration of Nations banners displayed along 10th Street, Pine
Street and downtown Rolla serve as a reminder and symbol of how our community
recognizes, embraces, and celebrates its cultural diversity.
The
festivities for this unique event start at 11 a.m. with a colorful and festive
parade that kicks off at the Havener Center on the Missouri University of
Science and Technology campus. The parade winds through the Missouri S&T
campus and downtown Rolla, and concludes on 9th Street at the
downtown festival lot and bandshell where every country participating will be
recognized much like the opening ceremonies of the Olympics. Downtown Rolla
will be filled with floats, bands, camels, horses, donkeys and more colorful
flags from more countries you may ever see in one place in the Missouri Ozarks.
After
the parade, a festival will be held in the downtown festival park that will
include a variety of authentic crafts and international foods from around the
world, calligraphy, face painting, sand art, children’s activities, inflatable
bounce houses, a dunk tank, paper/wood fans for decorating, Origami, Calligraphy,
Henna tattoos and an authentic tent from Saudi Arabia, complete with sand,
camels, dates, and tea served by Missouri S&T students. You almost feel
like you are traveling around the world as you visit numerous cultural displays hosted by several Missouri S&T
International student associations, and groups from several countries,
including the African Student Association.
Another popular, educational and international
aspect of the event are
the passports that are given to all the children who attend, and stamped by
international students who host booths that reflect the cultures and customs of
their native countries. International Idol, which includes a wide spectrum of
performances representing an international flair much like the American Idol competition
seen on TV, is also a highlight of the festival.
The
food offerings, which are reasonably priced (between $1 and $5) for students,
families and the public, are also what make this highly anticipated event the
popular festival it has become. This year you can once again experience an
international and diverse menu that includes French crepes, spicy Indian food, Chinese food, Thai food, Taiwanese,
Pakistani, Mexican, Columbian, African, American and so much more. There will
also be American BBQ served up by Chartwells and Key Sports.
Also new to Celebration of Nations this year are
camel rides ($5 each) and a ping pong tournament that is open to the public. So if you like international
festivals, culture, diversity, travel, great food, entertainment, education,
and fun, you are sure to enjoy Celebration of Nations.
Rolla City Council
Mtg. set for
Oct. 1
The
next Rolla City Council meeting will be held on Monday, Oct. 1 at 6:30 p.m. at
the Rolla City Hall - Council Chambers, 901 N. Elm Street. City Council
meetings are usually held the first and third Monday of the month unless
interrupted by an observed holiday.
To
view the agenda and full agenda packet for the Oct. 1 Council meeting, please
visit the City's Website at: http://rollacity.org/admin/agenda.shtml#agenda. A copy of the 2012-2013 City of
Rolla Proposed budget is also available on this page on the Website.
Council
meetings are also broadcast live on Rolla Channel 16, (Rolla's Public Education
& Government channel).
For
more information, please call City Administration at 426-6948.
City-wide Clean-up
set for Oct. 6 in Rolla
The
City of Rolla Environmental Services Department will hold a City-wide Clean-up
on Saturday, Oct. 6. If you wish to participate, please place all items near
the curb by 6 a.m. Items should not be placed at the curb more than 72 hours in
advance or 3 days prior to the October 6 pickup.
Examples
of items that will be accepted are furniture, microwaves,
televisions, old clothes, and normal household trash. Items that will not be accepted are appliances, water heaters, yard waste, tires, or
construction debris such as sheet rock, shingles, concrete or rock. Loose items should be placed in boxes or
bags and small pieces of lumber should be bundled.
We
ask that you do not place rollout trash containers at the curb on Oct. 6
because during this special City-wide Clean-up they will not be emptied. For
more information, please call 364-6693.
Basswood
Drive
street
improvements
underway
The
City of Rolla Public Works Department, in conjunction with Rainey & Son
Construction, L.L.C., have begun substantial street improvements on Basswood
Drive.
The
Basswood Drive and Boxelder Drive Street Improvement project (#296), recently
approved by the Rolla City Council, will include excavation, storm sewer
installation, new curb and gutter, new driveway aprons, and subsequent 4-inch
paving.
The
excavation and road improvements on Boxelder Drive will begin immediately after
the street improvements are complete on Basswood sometime in October.
It
is anticipated that the entire street improvement project, including Boxelder,
should be completed before the end of 2012, weather permitting. Caution signs
and safety cones will be posted in the construction area, indicating lane
closures, and for motorists to please drive carefully.
“The
City of Rolla appreciates the assistance, patience and cooperation of the
public throughout the duration of this important street improvement project,”
said Steve Hargis, Director of Public Works.
For
more information, please contact the Public Works Department at 364-8659 or
visit www.rollacity.org.
Rolla’s Public Works Dept.
continues micro-surfacing
City streets
The
City of Rolla Public Works Department will continue asphalt micro-surfacing on
several City streets throughout the next two weeks. The area includes several
streets off of Rolla Street, beginning with Becca Dr., Brady Dr., and Sooter Lane,
and followed by several streets near Oak Knolll Road and Sycamore Drive, as
well as the streets located in Maggi Place. Additional streets will include
Christy Drive off Rolla Street, and finally Seventh and Ninth Streets off
Holloway Street, and several adjacent streets.
This
micro-surfacing project is being completed by Donelson Construction Company. It
is a quick set surfacing system that will provide an approximate
one-quarter-inch-thick pavement resurfacing. Micro-surfacing is an economical
alternative to hot asphalt mix overlays, which typically applies a minimum of
two inches of pavement resurfacing.
A
complete list of streets that are scheduled for micro-surfacing in Rolla is
posted on the City of Rolla’s Website at www.rollacity.org.
Flagmen
will be present to direct traffic, and motorists and pedestrians are urged to
remain cautious when traveling through the areas of work. Delays up to 20
minutes or more should be expected.
For
more information, please call the Public Works Department at (573) 364-8659.
Rolla Cruise-In
Christmas for GRACE
set for Oct. 13
The
Rolla Cruise-In Christmas for GRACE, which is free and open to the community,
will be held on Sat., Oct. 13 from 5-8 p.m. at Fairgrounds Auto Plaza (located
at Fairgrounds Road and Kingshighway).
In
addition to all the classic and vintage cars, there will also be motorcycles at
the Cruise-In. There will also be a DJ (Jim Larson), great music, and much
more, so bring your lawn chairs and enjoy a great night out.
There
will be a dash plaque given (as supplies last) to anyone who brings a child's
unwrapped gift or cash donation for the GRACE (Greater Rolla Area Charitable
Enterprise) For Christmas project. Refreshments will also be provided by the Rolla
Road Riders.
In
addition, there will be a Poker Run ($5 a hand - best hand poker as you go
through town to pick your cards) through the City of Rolla with five stops,
terminating at Fairgrounds Auto Plaza.
Proceeds will go towards GRACE for Christmas as well.
For
more information, please contact Jim Larson at 573-465-0865.
Operation Neighborhood
Clean-up set for Nov. 2
The
5th annual “Operation Neighborhood Clean-up” will be held on Friday, Nov. 2 throughout the Rolla community
in designated, high priority areas. The selection of these properties will be
determined by the City of Rolla Police Department and the Rolla Area
Ministerial Alliance.
All
volunteers are asked to attend the welcome gathering at 6:30 a.m. at Greentree
Christian Church Youth Center located at 801 East 10th Street. A
complimentary continental breakfast will be provided. The clean-up will take place
from 7 a.m. to 12-noon.
The
entire community is invited to participate in this beautification effort, which
is once again being coordinated by the Rolla Area Ministerial Alliance and the
Rolla Police Department.
Operation
Neighborhood Clean-up is an opportunity for residents to partner with the Rolla
Area Ministerial Alliance, community churches, and the Rolla Police Department
to enhance a sense of community, well being, pride and property values among
the neighborhoods where the clean up is conducted.
The
clean-up effort will involve limited tree trimming, hedge trimming, and the
removal of brush piles, leaves, household items and trash. Groups or
individuals interested in volunteering may contact Chris Foster, Adult
Education Minister at Greentree Christian Church, at 364-2649 or cfoster@greentreerolla.org, or Officer Vince Giacolone at the
Rolla Police Department at 308-1213 or at vgiacolone@rollacity.org.
Rolla
Downtown
Farmer’s
Market
open
every Tuesday
The
Rolla Downtown Farmer’s Market is open and operating under the new shade
structure in the lower parking lot of Rolla City Hall from 7 a.m. until 12-noon
each Tuesday throughout the growing season.
The
Farmer’s Market is coordinated by Roy Fiscus and Wilma Bingham, and spots are
available for vendors to sell their items, but they must be locally grown or
made products/produce (Phelps County).
No
flea market, yard sale type items will be permitted. All spots are first come,
first served. The cost to host a booth is $2 per day, which is given to the
organizers the day the vendors are there.
For
additional information, please contact Roy Fiscus at 341-8045 or Wilma Bingham
at 364-5544.
Environmental Services Important Dates
(clip
& save coupon)
Oct. 6, 2012
- Citywide Fall Clean Up:
Saturday - Citywide clean up day (residential only).
Nov. 22, 2012 – Thanksgiving Day:
Thursday’s
trash will be picked up Wednesday.
Dec. 25, 2012 –
Christmas Day: Tuesday’s trash
will be picked up Wednesday.
.
Holidays
NOT affecting trash or recycling collection:
Oct. 8, 2012 – Columbus Day
Nov. 12, 2012 – Veteran’s Day
Nov. 23, 2012 – Day after Thanksgiving
Rolla Channel 16
live streaming
24/7 on the Web
If
you happen to miss the airing of a Rolla City Council meeting, Planning &
Zoning meeting, Rolla Public School Board meeting or Board of Public Works
meeting, you can now watch them live on the Rolla Channel 16 Website at http://rollachannel16.com.
Rolla
Channel 16, Rolla’s premiere Education and Government channel, is also now live
streaming (24/7) at http://rollachannel16.com. RC16 is live streaming all Rolla
City Council meetings, Rolla Planning & Zoning Commission meetings, Rolla
Public Schools board meetings, Rolla High School Review and “City Minutes”
hosted by the City of Rolla’s Communications Office.
Other
syndicated content on RC16 such as Missouri Outdoors, Army Newswatch, and
Capitol Dialogue will also live stream on RC16 at http://rollachannel16.com.
For
more information regarding programming or DVD duplication of Rolla City Council
meetings, Rolla Planning & Zoning meetings, and Rolla Public Schools board
meetings, etc., please contact Kenny Perzan, Senior Video Editor, at (573)
426-3377 or at Kenny.Perzan@fidelitycommunications.com.
Be
sure to watch Rolla Channel 16 – “Education, Government and Community for you!”
SEPTEMBER 2012
Sept. 29 – 3rd Annual Celebration of Nations (11 a.m.
– 4 p.m.); Downtown Festival Park
OCTOBER 2012
Oct. 1 – City Council Mtg. (6:30 p.m.)
Oct. 6 – City-wide Clean Up (items to curb by 6 a.m.);
residential only
Oct. 13 – 34th Annual Arts & Crafts Festival (9 a.m. – 4 p.m.)
Oct. 15 – City Council Mtg. (6:30 p.m.)
NOVEMBER 2012
Nov. 2 – 5th Annual Operation Neighborhood Clean-Up
(6:30 a.m.-noon); volunteers meet for at Greentree Christian Church Youth
Center, 801 E. 10th St. (308-1213 – Vince Giacolone)
Nov. 3 – 29th Annual Optimist Flap Jack Day (6 a.m. –
2 p.m.); St. Patrick Parish Hall; proceeds benefit Rolla Area youth
($5-Advance; $6-Door – Under 6 FREE)
Nov. 5 – City Council Mtg. (6:30 p.m.)
Nov. 12 – City Hall closed for Veterans Day Holiday
Nov. 19 – City Council Mtg. (6:30 p.m.)
Nov. 22-23 – City Hall closed for Thanksgiving Holiday
Scott A. Grahl
Communications Director
City of Rolla, Missouri
(573) 426-6943
Follow us on Facebook
& Twitter at www.rollacity.org