City of Rolla Mid-Week E-Updates (Sept. 26, 2012)

Celebration of Nations

set for Sept. 29

in downtown Rolla

Rolla Mayor Bill Jenks, III

One campus. One Community. One world. That continues to be the theme of the ever popular Celebration of Nations event 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 event is primarily coordinated by the Office of International Affairs at Missouri University of Science and Technology, but receives critical input from international students at Missouri S&T, and other departments at the University, the campus, and the City of Rolla (including the Public Works Dept., Rolla PD, Rolla Fire & Rescue, Environmental Services Dept. and Administration).

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. So if you like international festivals, culture, diversity, travel, great food, entertainment, education, and fun, you are sure to enjoy Celebration of Nations.

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. 

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 are reasonably priced (between $1 and $5) and 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 will include 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.

While this work may take several days to complete, streets that are being sealed will remain open with temporary one-lane traffic established. 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 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!”

Upcoming Events

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 – 34^th Annual Arts & Crafts Festival (9 a.m. – 4 p.m.)

Oct. 15 – City Council Mtg. (6:30 p.m.)

NOVEMBER 2012

Nov. 2 – 5^th Annual Operation Neighborhood Clean-Up (6:30 a.m.-noon); volunteers meet for at Greentree Christian Church Youth Center, 801 E. 10^th St. (308-1213 – Vince Giacolone)

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

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