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Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge 40th Anniversary Celebration Oct. 8

Minnesota-Valley-National-Wildlife-Refuge (1) Stretching for 72 miles intermittently along the Minnesota River in the Twin Cities area from Fort Snelling to Henderson, the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge is an urban oasis for nature and nature lovers alike. The more than 14,000 acres are managed by the U.S. (Read more…) Fish & Wildlife Service, which also oversees the Minnesota Valley Wetland Management District that spans another 14 Minnesota counties.

The refuge is celebrating its 40th anniversary on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016—the same date it was established by Congressional Order in 1976—with a public celebration that coincides with National Wildlife Refuge Week. Events will be held at the Bloomington Education and Visitor, 3815 American Blvd. East in Bloomington. The day-long celebration will include family-friendly and hands-on activities such as birding, exploration, fishing, hiking and more.

“Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge is one of Minnesota’s best kept secrets. It provides Twin Cities residents access just minutes from their homes to a wilderness area where they can take advantage of free outdoor recreational experiences that include biking, fishing, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, hiking, bird watching and hunting,” said Tim Bodeen, Refuge Manager. “Featuring a variety of habitats—including lakes, marshes, prairies, oak savannas and floodplain forests—the Refuge offers endless inspiration to artists and nature photographers alike.”

While initially established to provide valuable habitat for migratory birds—including waterbirds, wading birds, waterfowl and passerines—the reserve now serves as a key site in Minnesota for monarch butterfly conservation efforts. It is located less than 10 miles from downtown Minneapolis, making it one of only 17 refuges across the country designated as an Urban Wildlife Refuge. The Bloomington Education and Visitor Center is a one-quarter mile walk from the Metro Blue Line’s American Boulevard 34th Avenue Station and Platform.

The refuge plans to add additional activities to continue the year-long celebration to commemorate its anniversary. To learn more, visit fws.gov/refuge/minnesota_valley/, call 952-854-5900 or find the refuge on social media at @MNvalleyNWR or facebook.com/MNvalleyNWR.

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Opinion: Lights at Carver Fields

I would like to comment on the issue of installing lights at the new Carver fields. As a coordinator of our fields, we have had MANY times where having lights would have either saved games being postponed or not being able to be played for various reasons.

Carver is growing. Our field requirements are growing. Tuesday and Thursday nights all the fields are double booked and games have to be shortened so we can get the games in. And that is when we have the most sun light.

I did read the article in the Chaska paper regarding lights in surrounding communities and who had or doesn’t have lights. It did say that Victoria did not have any lights. That would be incorrect. I do use 2 of their fields THAT DO HAVE LIGHTS for our Monday and Wednesday night games.

This year for our Year End Softball tournament we had to reschedule 2 games because of darkness and not having lights. Carver fields were part of that mix.

Please reconsider putting lights in now versus the issues and costs that would occur at a later date. CARVER is growing and having these 2 fields with lights would make us one of the top communities on fields for Baseball and Softball and other sports that could use these fields. Some of the added Fall events that lights would be needed for are Fall Softball (which we could offer) youth football via the schools, La cross or soccer and other events that I am not aware of. The options are open but they do need lights in the fall.

I would like to Thank-you for hearing me (with special concerts for the CCYBSA programs for our youth of Carver and surrounding communities) and being able to express my concerns on this subject.

Jane Thon – CCYBSA Coordinator