2023 October - Fall NewsletterVOLUME 17, ISSUE 2 OCTOBER 2023
Atwice-yearly publication forresidents ofthe City ofscandia, Minnesota �)
Message From the Mayor
As we head into fall and winter, we will have treasured memories of our Sister City �� AA �TTT A
guests from Mellerud, Sweden, who contributed to a very successful Taco Daze HILL
celebration. We look forward to numerous upcoming community events to further
celebrate Scandia. Our sixth annual Cinnamon Bun Day is on October 4" where
volunteers distribute cinnamon buns at the intersection of Oakhill Road and Olinda Trail early in the morning.
Vinterlights returns on November 26"with cups of hot cocoa, cookies and carols around the firepits outdoors, while
indoors the finest handcrafted gifts by local artisans are available at the Best of Scandia Shopping Extravaganza.
Vinterfest 2024 is expanding to a two-day event on January 261h & 271hwith snow sculpture contests, hockey
tournaments, BINGO and so much more. Watch the City's website for more details. We hope to see you there!
As exciting as the fall and winter are shaping up, Scandia also had a successful summer. Scandia was awarded two grants from the
State of Minnesota, totaling $4.88 million. The Gateway Trail project received $2.68 million.
Scandia is working with Washington
County and the Department of Natural Resources to complete the
design and engineering of the
trail. Construction is scheduled for
the summer of 2026. Scandia also received $2.2 million for Scandia
Heritage Alliance's Water Tower Barn project. This project looks
to resurrect the historic Water Tower Barn on the ballfield site south of the Community Center.
This project will be built in phases.
We seek to keep our residents informed through this newsletter,
our website (www.citvofscandia.coml, Facebook, and NextDoor.
Please keep in touch. c.maefskyaci.scandia.mn.us
Christine Maefsky
Mayor
Did you know?
Scandia Sister City Council
There is an online
Community Calendar at
Hosts Ten Swedish Visitors
www.cityofscandia.com/
Parting was bittersweet at the stay, many said they enjoyed
Calendars. This website
page defaults to show all
final banquet after hosting ten the conversations with the
three of Scandia's online
visitors from Scandia's Sister people of Scandia.
calendars overlayed at the
City of Mellerud, Sweden, for
Scandia Sister City Council
seven days. Scandia Sister
same time. If you refer,
Y P
Vinterfest: January 26 & 27, 2024.
J Y
City Council (SSCC) planned thanks the Scandia businesses
you can select the color-
Check the City's website and the
who generously contributed
schedule with interesting
coded tabs to see one
CountryMessenger for event
g
meals, tours, and items fora
e
events for ouurr Swedish
calendar at a time. The
updates in early January.
visitors during their visit from gift bag to make our guests'
Yellow Tab is the
www.cityofscandia.com/Vinterfest
September 5'" through visit even more memorable.
Community Calendar. You
will find events like Scandia
Inside This Issue:
September II ". They told the Two Scandia families traveled
Marine Lions Club's
committee they wanted to see independently to Mellerud
community breakfast,
Internet Expansion Update z
everything so they were kept this summer and connected
Scandia Heritage Alliance's
Tai chi for Health II class z
very busy. Many of the with long -lost relatives. The
progressive dinner, and
visiting Swedes hosted the SSCC is looking forward to
Friends of Scandia Parks and
Recycling News z
Scandia delegation during working on connecting more
Trials' speaker event "Why
Scandia Fire rf Rescue z
their visit to Mellerud in June Swedish families with our
People are Switching to Heat
of this year. Their visit to community and vice versa in
Pumps" all in the month of
Kids Winder Pro ramin 2
Scandia coordinated with the 2024. If you would like more
October. This is where you
safe Halloween@ Fire station 3
annual Taco Daze celebration, information about the SSCC
can find one resource to
Scandia E—nin Adventures 3
of which they enthusiastically please email Lynne Moratzka
direct you to many different
Scandia Public Works 3
served as the Grand at
events happening in our
Marshalls in the Taco Daze
aammelaardenlvnne(cDfrontie
community. Community
StarWatch Party with Mike Lynch 3
p grade. New ideas were
rnet.net or
Event requests to be added
Vinterlights!&Best of Scandia 3
exchanged and friendships
to this calendar are
New Playground 3
were made or strengthened. path Ray at
s u b m i t t e d a t
When asked what they
www.cityofscandia.com/ ndia. com/
community calendar 4
enjoyed the most during their pattikrav(cDamail.com.
\
CommunityCalendar.
Page 2 High Speed Internet Expansion Update - Fall 2023
For 2023 and 2024 Committee (LAC), MidCo has applied to efforts.
the city partnered the State of Minnesota for funding under The IAC is working to reach the
with MidCo and the new 'Line Extension Program' to
Washington County serve an additional 19 homes just west of remaining 433 homes in Scandia that still
for a $745,000 Big Marine Lake and 5 homes along lack high speed broadband and we
expansion of Meadowbrook Avenue. Total cost for this expect new funding from the federal
broadband fiber to project is $160,316 and is borne entirely government under their Broadband
o Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD)
93 homes around the by the State and MidCo with n
western side of Big contribution from Scandia. program to help us reach that goal in
Marine Lake. MidCo's share was 38%, 2025 and 2026.
Scandia's share was 12% and Washington When these two projects are completed
g next year, the LAC will have brought high Forinteractive map and additional
County's share was 50%. Work begins information visit the Internet Expansion
an
this fall and will be completed next year. speed broadband to homes in Scandia, doubbll additional 714e the number of Updates tab on the Scandia website:
At the behest of Scandia's Internet Action homes connected prior to our expansion v"ww.citvofscandia.com/
Int erne tActionUp d at e s
Tai Chi for Health II class at the Scandia
Join instructor Bill Jabas on Wednesday, The class will start with a series of short Late registration will not be allowed after
October 18th at 6:30 p.m. for the next warm up exercises and then move to the the second week of the class. Classes for
class, Tai Chi for Health II. Expand your specific learning portion of the class, Tai Tai Chi for Health I & II, plus practice
knowledge and practice of Tai Chi for Chi for Health II, then end with a series of classes, will be offered if the community
Health and learn to better experience the short cool down exercises. continues to be interested.
overall benefits of learning and
practicing Tai Chi. Class participants should have R e g i s t e r online t o d a y,
completed, or have a working www.cityofscandia.com/TaiChi.
This class completes the series of knowledge of, Tai Chi for Health I or Tai
movements for Tai Chi for Health I and II Chi for Arthritis I, or have functional
and starts where Tai Chi for Health I knowledge of Sun Style Tai Chi.
finished. Scandia Fire & Rescue
• Burning Permit
RECYCLING MYTHApplications are online — only issued during office business hours—
M-F, 9 am-4 pm—www.citvofscandia.com/BurnPermit
XMATERIALS IN LANDFILL DECOMPOSE, SO
RECYCLING S NOT IMPORTANT.
• Fire Prevention Open House at the Scandia Fire station October loth,
LANDFILLS ARE BUILT TO 5-7 pm with demonstrations throughout the evening & Scandia
K EP WATER AND AIR
OUT, WHICH ARE KEY Marines Lions providing food.
INGREDIENTS IN
DECOMPOSITION, . Fireball, February 24, 7 p.m. —midnight at the Community Center
WHEN YOU CAit'
SO WE CAN USE THAT
MATERIAL AGAIN. • Mark your driveway or mailbox with at least 2" reflective numbers
(visible from either direction) for fire, police, ambulance & other
public safety members to quickly find your home in the event of an
emergency. Additional markings are needed for shared driveways
Wondering if an item can be recycled? Check out and mailbox clusters. More information is at www.cityofscandia.com/
the Washington County Disposal Directory to FireAddress
quickly find local disposal and recycling options
for things you no longer want or need: • Driveways must be accessible to fire engines. These trucks must have
www.citvofscandia.com/Recycle a clear path that is 12' wide by 14' tall. Tree branches damage our
vehicles responding to your home in times of crisis.
Plastics and film packaging continue to be
collected at the Scandia Community Center and
Federated Co-ops Country Store. This collection
program is sponsored by NexTrex, which turns
the plastics into eco-friendly outdoor products..
Scandia has earned two park benches as a result
of collecting more than 1,000 # of film plastic that
has stayed out of the landfill! Collections are
underway now to earn a third bench by
collecting 500# or more before December 31st.
Kids Winter Programming
Scandia Parks & Recreation will offer ice skating classes in
January for elementary school students.
1. Learn to Skate —Beginner / Advanced
2. Pleasure Skate
3. Hockey Skills
Watch for registration to open in December! www.cityi
WinterRecreation