ROCHESTER, MN – Rochester Public Utilities (RPU) and the Olmsted County Environmental Commission announce the recipients of the 2015 Environmental Achievement Awards. The recipients will be recognized at an awards banquet on January 21 at the Rochester Golf and Country Club. The awards honor individuals, organizations, schools and businesses that have made a significant contribution in 2015 towards environmental quality in any of the following categories: renewable efforts, conservation, energy, water, agriculture, education, and other.

The 2015 recipients are:

Ivan and Mary Idso

With the support of community volunteers, Ivan and Mary Idso organized and facilitated Rochester’s inaugural Earthfest Celebration, a nine day event that ran from April 18-26, 2015. The celebration included educational sessions at Assisi Heights, Quarry Hill Nature Center, Cascade Meadow Wetlands & Environmental Science Center, and Olmsted County and City of Rochester Parks. The final day of the Earthfest Celebration included a climate march through Rochester, and a free Eco Fair at the Mayo Civic Center. The event drew many people from varying backgrounds and called attention to numerous environmental causes.

Zumbro Valley Bassmasters

There are currently thirty-five active members in Zumbro Valley Bassmasters (ZVBM), which has been an organized fishing club in Rochester since the early 1980s. ZVBM’s mission is to provide Rochester’s youth a chance to experience the outdoors and instill in them a lifelong love of fishing. ZVBM events provide opportunities for families to share quality time, while participating in one of our nation’s favorite pastimes.

This year marked the 4th annual youth fishing event for ZVBM. Members from the club host this event to educate youth on a variety of angling topics. The kids are shown how to properly remove a hook and release a fish. Habitat conservation was also emphasized during the event.

Leslie Hall

When Leslie is not chairing the Extension Master Gardener Dyers Garden at the Olmsted County History Center, she can be found working on her own yard, which she has restored with native plants. Native plants help retain water and prevent soil erosion; they also clean our surface water by filtering out pollutants. Another portion of Leslie’s yard is dedicated to plants that can be used to dye textiles.

Leslie has been a Certified Extension Master Gardener for nine years. She spends much of her time teaching classes on how to use botanicals for dyeing textiles, and why it is important. By using botanicals, Leslie gets all the color she needs to dye fabrics without the chemical waste.

Rochester Alternative Learning Center

Students at the Rochester Alternative Learning Center (ALC) have busy schedules. Some hold family responsibilities well beyond that of a normal teenager, many work part-time jobs, and all have coursework to prepare for. In spite of their obligations, ALC students make time to give back to the environment. This past summer, a group of students participated in a collaborative project that involved bagging Olmsted County compost, and selling it at the People’s Food Cooperative in Rochester. This undertaking served as a pilot project for a local nonprofit’s (Growing Home – Olmsted County) vision of establishing a sustainable urban farm.

ALC students also create their own compost with the school’s kitchen waste, and excess food scraps from the Channel One Regional Food Bank. This compost is used to supplement the school’s garden, which in turn is used to teach students about nutrition. Students have also spent time assisting the Southeastern Minnesota Water Analysis Laboratory in testing water at multiple locations on the Zumbro River.

Silver Lake Foods

Silver Lake Foods is committed to energy efficiency. They were the first store in Rochester to replace their existing open reach cooler cases with a new technology called the “No Energy Door”. This technology uses less lighting than conventional cases and eliminates the need for heaters that control condensate on the glass doors. They also installed electronic commutated motors that reduce the energy load for evaporator fans. Additionally, the entire store has switched to LED lighting. In total, these upgrades have reduced the store’s energy consumption by approximately 212,000 kWh annually.

Bruce Frutiger

Mention Mr. Frutiger to former students from Century High School, and you’ll find he was likely a big influence on their environmental ethics and love of nature. Bruce has worked to involve students in a variety of projects:

• Conservation activities at the Olmsted County Fair
• The Envirothon
• Glacier Stops Here
• Earthfest
• Collecting winter water samples for nitrogen testing
• Stream studies data collection for the Department of Natural Resources and Smallmouth Bass Alliance

He is a board member and active volunteer for the Zumbro Watershed Partnership, and Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center.

Ray Schmitz

As a longtime Rochester area environmental activist, Ray Schmitz has been involved in many local and regional organizations:

• Environmental Commission
• Zumbro Watershed Partnership, currentboardmember
• Sierra Club
• EagleBluff EnvironmentalLearning Center, currentboardmember
• SoutheastMinnesota Clean Energy ResourceTeam, currentsteeringcommitteemember
• Rochester Energy Commission, vice chair
• Minnesota Regional Sustainable Development Partnership, current board member
• Rochester Earthfest Eco Fair planning committee

For more information on energy conservation or the Environmental Achievement Awards visit www.rpu.org.

About Rochester Public Utilities

As the municipal utility of Rochester, Minn., for more than 110 years, RPU provides high-quality and reliable electricity to over 49,000 customers. Water customers number more than 37,000. RPU continually investigates innovative technologies to help customers realize the best value from the services they receive. Current initiatives include fuel cell research, wind power, and photovoltaic offerings.

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Do you have a  person, organization, business, or group that you would like to nominate for an Environmental Achievement Award? The deadline for nominations is October 16. Recognize someone today by clicking the link below for full details and directions on submitting a nomination.

http://www.rpu.org/environment/environmental-achievement-awards/

Due to cold conditions expected and possible inclement weather, Rochester Public Utilities (RPU), with partners Maier Tree & Lawn and Rochester Park and Recreation, will host the 13^th Annual Arbor Day Celebration on Friday, April 24 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the RCTC Field House.

The fun and free community event will feature a variety of activities and displays that will include: A tree giveaway of 1,000 trees, a free lunch of hot dogs, corn on the cob, chips, cookies, and soda will be provided (while supplies last), and live music from Paul Mayasich and his band, Real American Made Music. Tree experts will also be on hand to answer questions on tree planting and care, along with many other vendor displays.

Children will be able to enjoy Smokey Bear, balloonists, a scavenger hunt, temporary tattoos, bean bag toss, and much more!

At noon, an awards ceremony will honor Rochester elementary school students who were selected as finalists of the Arbor Day poster contest, as well as this year’s overall winner, Nicole Yang, a second grader at Churchill Elementary. Nicole will receive a $100 Barnes & Noble gift card, her winning poster will be featured in advertising, and a tree will be planted in her honor at Churchill Elementary School at a later date.

Co-Sponsors of this year’s event include: Hy-Vee, Minnesota Energy Resources, Sargent’s Gardens, and Seneca Foods.

Participants include: Boys & Girls Club of Rochester, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Olmsted County Environmental Resources, Olmsted Soil & Water Conservation District, Quarry Hill Nature Center, Rochester Public Library, Rochester Public Works, and Zumbro Valley Audubon.

RPU line crews will also be partnering with Rochester Park and Recreation on a tree planting for The Right Tree in the Right Place program beginning at 8 a.m. Approximately 62 compatible trees under power lines will be planted along 16^th St. S.E. (from 3^rd Ave. S.E. to 11^th Ave. S.E.).

Also, Rochester has been chosen as the site for the 2016 State Arbor Month Celebration. More details to come on this event.

For specific questions or concerns regarding the change in venue, please contact Tony Benson at 507-280-1534 or 507-398-7250.

About Rochester Public Utilities

As the municipal utility of Rochester, Minn., for more than 110 years, RPU provides high-quality and reliable electricity to over 50,000 customers.  Water customers number more than 36,000.  RPU continually investigates innovative technologies to help customers realize the best value from the services they receive.  Current initiatives include fuel cell research, wind power, and photovoltaic offerings.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 21, 2015

CONTACT:              Tony Benson

Communications Coordinator

507.280.1534

tbenson@rpu.org

Individuals and Organizations to be recognized for Environmental Achievements in the Community

ROCHESTER, MN – Rochester Public Utilities (RPU) and the Olmsted County Environmental Commission announce the recipients of the 2014 Environmental Achievement Awards. The recipients will be recognized at an awards banquet on January 22 at the Rochester Golf and Country Club. The awards honor individuals, organizations, schools and businesses that have made a significant contribution in 2014 towards environmental quality in any of the following categories: renewable efforts, conservation, energy, water, agriculture, education, and other.

The 2014 recipients are:

Edward Cohen

Edward Cohen actively educates on climate change and clean energy in the Rochester area and statewide through networking with the Minnesota Clean Energy Resource Team. Ed has also helped organize discussion panels and public marches to draw attention to climate change and clean energy alternatives. He has helped draw the connection between more frequently occurring extreme weather events and climate change. Ed also serves on the Rochester Energy Commission, has sought grants from RNeighbors for boulevard trees, and has participated in numerous public energy and climate education events.

Gerrard Corporation

Located on the corner of 1st Avenue SW and 6th Street SW, the newly designed Metropolitan Marketplace has an eye catching design. In addition to its modern look, the marketplace displays sustainable site features that mitigate storm water run-off by utilizing structural soils, street trees, and porous concrete pavers in the boulevard. Rain gardens with native plants growing in two feet of top soil effectively control storm water runoff from the parking lot into the public storm sewers. These site modifications also create a safe, comfortable, and ecologically friendly pedestrian environment.

Sister Rafeal Tilton

Promoting energy conservation is a passion for Sister Tilton. To conserve energy and decrease waste, she and the Sisters of Assisi Heights have instituted kitchen waste composting. Composting directly benefits Assisi Height’s garden soils by encouraging vigorous root growth, making nutrients more available for plant uptake, and returning significant quantities of organic matter to the soils. This in turn, helps our community by reducing the amount of municipal solid waste that is transported off the property to be deposited at the Olmsted County Sanitary Landfill or at the Olmsted Waste-to-Energy Facility. The improved soils also enhance water infiltration which reduces stormwater runoff and increases groundwater recharge.

Zumbro Watershed Partnership

The Zumbro Watershed Partnership created an organizational goal of raising public awareness of the Zumbro River and its tributaries in an effort to protect the river. This project took place in the City of Rochester, greater Olmsted County, Dodge County, and Goodhue County. In Olmsted County, 58 new bridge signs now educate the public as to what stream or river they are crossing and inform the public that the waterway is a part of the much larger Zumbro Watershed. There are also 12 new educational signs located in six parks, among the three counties, that give the public information about the role of human activity on the waters of the watershed.

Oronoco Township

Oronoco Township went far beyond the traditional role of townships in helping resident’s fix long standing sewage treatment problems in the King’s Park area. In 2011, the Town Board began working with the Southeast Minnesota Wastewater Initiative to bring the residents of King’s Park together to find a solution to their sewage treatment problems. An earlier study had found that some of the homes had straight pipes that delivered raw sewage to Lake Zumbro. These systems were classified as an “imminent threat to public health.” In 2013, a soil-based shared treatment system was constructed that serves 14 homes in the area to treat nearly 5,000 gallons of sewage each day. The final work on the system was completed in 2014.

Terry and Joyce Grier

Terry and Joyce Grier have played a key role in the bird banding programs offered at Quarry Hill Nature Center. Banding obtains information about migration, longevity, mortality, feeding behavior, and other activities pertaining to birds. The Grier’s expertise has been invaluable to the community as they are actively involved in public education and conservation. People of all ages are able to share an ‘up close and personal’ experience with birds because of the work that Terry and Joyce provide. A strong passion for the environment is evidenced by their involvement with Quarry Hill, the National Audubon Society, and other works promoting environmental education.

Piper Winn

The act of public speaking is consistently rated a top fear among adults, but Piper Winn is no adult. In September 2014, at the age of 8, Piper was asked to speak at the People’s Climate March and Rally in Rochester. Piper prepared her own speech explaining what climate change is and the important role we play in stopping it. As Piper brought awareness to climate change, she was able to relate to her audience and support the community dialog on this important subject.

For more information on energy conservation or the Environmental Achievement Awards visit www.rpu.org.

About Rochester Public Utilities

As the municipal utility of Rochester, Minn., for more than 110 years, RPU provides high-quality and reliable electricity to over 49,000 customers. Water customers number more than 37,000. RPU continually investigates innovative technologies to help customers realize the best value from the services they receive. Current initiatives include fuel cell research, wind power, and photovoltaic offerings.

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Rochester Public Utilities (RPU), with partners Maier Tree & Lawn and Rochester Park and Recreation, will host the 12^th Annual Arbor Day Celebration on Friday, April 25 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Three Links-Silver Lake Park, located at 840 7th St NE in Rochester.

The fun and free community event will feature a variety of activities and displays that will include: A tree giveaway of over 3,000 trees, a free lunch of hot dogs, corn on the cob, chips, cookies, and soda will be provided (while supplies last), and live music from Paul Mayasich and his band, Real American Made Music. Tree experts will also be on hand to answer questions on tree planting and care, along with many other vendor displays.

Children will be able to enjoy Smokey Bear, balloonists, a scavenger hunt, temporary tattoos, bean bag toss, and much more!

At noon, an awards ceremony will honor Rochester elementary school students who were selected as finalists of the Arbor Day poster contest, as well as this year’s overall winner, Annie Orvis, a fifth grader at Washington Elementary. Annie will receive a $100 Barnes & Noble gift card, her winning poster will be featured in advertising, and a tree will be planted in her honor at Washington Elementary School.

Co-Sponsors of this year’s event include: Hy-Vee, Minnesota Energy Resources, Sargent’s Gardens, and Seneca Foods.

Participants include: Minnesota Department of natural Resources, Olmsted Soil & Water Conservation District, Quarry Hill Nature Center, Rochester Public Library, Rochester Public Works, and Zumbro Valley Audubon.

In the event of rain, the celebration will be moved to Rochester Community & Technical College’s Field House.

About Rochester Public Utilities

As the municipal utility of Rochester, Minn., for more than 120 years, RPU provides high-quality and reliable electricity to over 50,000 customers.  Water customers number more than 38,000.  RPU continually investigates innovative technologies to help customers realize the best value from the services they receive.  Current initiatives include smart grid, water sustainability, wind power, and photovoltaic offerings.

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