Prairie Restorations provides homeowners and organizations with the resources to recreate their own prairies – very cool! We are attempting to do that on the back acre of our property. Growing anything in the sands of Orrock is difficult, so we figured why not let the things that grow do so naturally!

I’m anxious to see all the Prairie Day activities – it should be fun!

Here is the information from their site:

Prairie Day has been scheduled for August 20, 2011.

After a 3 year hiatus, we are very excited for the arrival of Prairie Day this August 20th from 9am to 3pm. Typically held in July, this year’s event is being held in late August so that visitors can experience the late summer beauty of the prairie. This is also the time of year when the farm is gearing up for the all-important fall harvest.

Scheduled Events:

10:00 & 11:00: University of Minnesota’s Raptor Center
10:30: Story telling with Doug Wood
12:00: “Minnesota Bounds” Bill Sherck
12:30: Monarch butterfly release
1:00: Live music by Douglas Wood & The Wild Spirit Band
2:00: “Important Life of Bees” by the University of Minnesota Bee Lab with Dr. Spivak and Elaine Evans

Kids Activities:
Scavenger hunt with prizes
Face painting
Crafts
Story telling

Other Attractions:
Farm Tours
Grass Maze
Guided Plant Walks

Representatives from other Organizations:
Bluebird Recovery Program of Minnesota
Sherburne County SWCD
University of Minnesota Bee Lab
Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge

Food and beverages will be available for purchase – provided by the Princeton Wrestling Booster Club.

For any questions please call 763-389-4342

Visit the Prairie Restorations website at:

http://www.prairieresto.com/

Princeton Chamber of Commerce Business Expo
Saturday, March 6, 2010
9a – 2p
Princeton High School
http://www.princetonmnchamber.org/
25th Annual Expo

Big Lake Chamber of Commerce Business Expo
Saturday, March 6, 2010
11a – 3p
Big Lake High School
http://www.biglakechamber.com/

Hope to see you there!

The Podtburg family members met with Nancy Haugen, the refuge’s Visitor Services Manager, and Lee Johnson, President of the Friends of Sherburne NWR group. We enjoyed the opportunity to get to know this wonderful family. Olga was there, along with three of her four children, and three grandchildren. One family was here all the way from Boston, Massachusetts.

Here are some photos–click on the picture to see a larger version.

Here are some pictures:

(Click on each picture for a larger view)

(Click on each picture for a larger view)

Minnesota Hooved Animal Rescue Foundation (MHARF)
Garage Sale Fundraiser

WHEN: July 2-4th
WHERE: Princeton Civic Center

Donations Greatly Appreciated & Tax Deductable

Assistance is setting up & organizing items would also greatly be appreciated!!

We will accept donations starting May 1st of any household items or tack. No TV’s or electronics of any kind will be accepted, however.

Please contact:

Deb Farm – dfarm@sherbtel.net and 763-856-4475 or
Deb Anderson- darkanderson1960@yahoo.com and 763-389-9185

See the MHARF site at: http://www.mnhoovedanimalrescue.org/

Here is an excerpt for the meeting minutes from Princeton’s February 23, 2009 Parks and Recreation Board meeting:

NEW BUSINESS

Eagle Scout Project

Guest Zack Foede presented his idea for a project to move up from life scout to eagle scout. He wants to map out Pioneer Park with a GPS and make maps that can be picked up by park visitors to navigate in the park. Foede presented a sample map. He also has plans to make benches and bluebird houses for locating throughout the park. He is planning on getting donated materials so there would be no cost to the park board.

Suhsen asked if Rotary Club is still doing anything at Pioneer Park as they had adopted Pioneer Park at one time. No one thought they were still active with that project. Gerold offered that when Foede gets to that point, if there are old bird houses, benches or anything else that could be removed to make room for the new benches and bird houses to let him know.

Foede needs a letter of permission from the city to continue. Suhsen took the task to see that gets done. Peterson made a motion to accept the offer from Foede. Suhsen seconded the motion. There being no further discussion a vote was taken. Motion passed unanimously.

Despite chilly weather, Zach had an excellent turnout of helpers who were able to make all of the designated birdhouses. The project will be completed next weekend.

Zach Foede and assistants working on bird houses.

As part of our Storm Spotter training last month, we also had to become licensed amateur radio operators. The class today was well-organized and Mike Steckelberg, the instructor, provided the information in a way that made it very easy to learn. We spent the day going over the 10 different sections of material that would be covered on the test, and then had breaks in between to study our test-prep handout.

The examiners came in and administered the test right before 4:00 pm. The test consisted of 35 multiple-choice questions and after spending all day preparing, was pretty easy.

Now, the next step is to figure out what kind of radio we need!

If you didn’t figure it out yet, we both passed!

Some of the material we had to study!

Yikes–there’s a lot to know!

Our class taking the licensing exam.

Mike Steckelberg (standing) and the examiners (from left to right)

John Smolenski, Boaz Erickson, Greg Ogden, and Ken Carlson.

The hint of an early spring proved to be the usual cruel Minnesota head fake followed by another dump of winter. Again we learn not to fall in love with March. She’ll break your heart every time.

April, on the other hand, is true love, and we’re ready to embrace her. So we’ve scheduled our opening for Wednesday, April 8, at high noon. We’ve opened the tee sheet and will begin taking tee-time reservations Monday at noon by telephone at 763-389-5109.

To make reservations earlier, visit our Web site at www.princetongc.com and select the “Tee Times” tab. Please be aware that we are blocking times before 10 a.m. this week, and may experience additional frost delays.