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<br />RAMSEY SENIOR CITIZENS
<br />
<br />Thirty-eight friends and members were present at
<br />the March 1 st meeting of the Ramsey Senior
<br />Citizens. Lucy Haugard and Elmer and Marcy Bayerl
<br />visited with the club that day.
<br />Those present at the meeting discussed ideas for
<br />entertainment at future meetings and decided to wait
<br />for warmer weather to make any definite plans.
<br />Andy led the group in a sing-a-Iong with piano ac-
<br />companiment provided by Edith. The sing-a-long
<br />was followed by games.
<br />The club hopes to have a guest speaker and slide
<br />show for their next meeting.
<br />The Ramsey Seniors will meet at noon on
<br />Wednesday, April 5 for a potluck luncheon in the
<br />lower level of the Ramsey Municipal Center. If you
<br />are interested in joining the club or would like more
<br />information, please call Zola Malamen at 441-7841.
<br />
<br />ANOKA AREA
<br />
<br />CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
<br />
<br />Andover. Ramsey. Champlin
<br />
<br />The Anoka Area Chamber of Commerce has been
<br />serving the area since 1952. The Anoka Area
<br />Chamber of Commerce serves the cities of Andover,
<br />Anoka, Champlin, Dayton and Ramsey. The current
<br />President of the chamber is Ramsey resident and
<br />businessman Leo LeTourn~au of LeTourneau's
<br />Super Valu. The Executive Vice President is Peter
<br />Turok. The Administrative Assistant is Ramsey resi-
<br />dent Anne Madison.
<br />The chamber is a public information service center
<br />for area residents. We feature maps and literature
<br />about the communities we serve. The chamber also
<br />is a source of business referrals. If you have a ques-
<br />tion about an area business, call our office. Also, if
<br />you are planning on taking a vacation anywhere in
<br />the world, the chamber can give you the address of
<br />the chamber of commerce in that city and they will
<br />send you any information you request.
<br />If you have any questions about the chamber
<br />please call the office at 421-7130. The Anoka Area
<br />Chamber of Commerce office hours are 8:00 a.m.
<br />to 5:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday.
<br />
<br />CABLE TV COMMISSION
<br />
<br />TAKES ON NEW
<br />
<br />RESPONSIBILITIES IN 1989...
<br />By: Terry O'Connell
<br />Franchise Administrator
<br />
<br />On January 1, 1989, a change in the role of the
<br />Quad Cities Cable Communications Commission
<br />took place. The Cable Commission went from be-
<br />ing strictly an advisory/regulatory board to a
<br />management/production board. The Cable Commis-
<br />sion has become the video communications medium
<br />for the four cities: Andover; Anoka; Champlin;
<br />Ramsey.
<br />Under the terms of the new local programming
<br />agreement entered into with Cable TV North Cen-
<br />tral, the Commission's intentions are to redirect and
<br />refocus both the community and government chan-
<br />nels of the cable TV system. The agreement pro-
<br />vides the Commission with the authority to better
<br />utilize funds, staff, channel capacity and channel
<br />program playback. Also, it allows us to expand our
<br />ability to transmit unbiased information to the citizens
<br />of the member cities concerning the operation and
<br />deliberations of their city government.
<br />The government channels, assigned as 16 on the
<br />cable TV system, are dedicated and have nar-
<br />rowcasting capabilities, the ability for the City Coun-
<br />cils or other government agencies to present
<br />meetings to be viewed only within the designated
<br />area. For example, a Ramsey City Council meeting
<br />can be cablecast to the residents of Ramsey, while
<br />at the same time, Andover residents may watch
<br />taped proceedings of their Parks Advisory Board.
<br />The primary government program objectives of the
<br />Commission's programming entity, Quad Cities
<br />Community Television (QCTV-33), are to ac-
<br />complish the following:
<br />· better provide public service information to the
<br />citizens of the member cities;
<br />· increase awareness of the activities and delibera-
<br />tions of the legislative and advisory bodies of the
<br />member cities;
<br />· increase the citizen's knowledge of their cities'
<br />various functions; and
<br />· determine if programming or information distribu-
<br />tion between the member cities is viable.
<br />One of the most important functions of govern-
<br />ment programming, is to give citizens an opportuni-
<br />ty to see their public officials in action. By covering
<br />the deliberations of local government officials, we as
<br />community producers help return local government
<br />to the people. It is established that city council
<br />meetings are among the program with local origins
<br />that enjoy a consistent viewership. City council
<br />members have reported that they are often stopped
<br />by citizens who had watched the meeting the
<br />previous night and commented on something that
<br />happened during the meeting. Quite frankly,
<br />sometimes it is to mention some technical difficulty
<br />of our coverage equipment. Although most of the
<br />technical problems of live coverage have been
<br />resolved.
<br />
<br />HOLY WEEK AT
<br />CROSS OF HOPE
<br />
<br />Maundy Thursday, March 23 - 7:30 p.m.
<br />Portrayal of the "Last Supper". This has been a
<br />moving drama using members of the community to
<br />recreate the Upper Room.
<br />
<br />Good Friday, March 24 - 7:00 p.m.
<br />Tenebrae service at Grace Lutheran in Andover.
<br />
<br />Easter Sunday, March 26
<br />7:30 a.m. Sunrise service of Resurrection
<br />9:00 a.m. Easter celebration
<br />10:15 a.m. Easter celebration
<br />Brass, piano, organ, choirs, an Easter garden of
<br />flowers to announce: Christ Is Risen!
<br />
<br />"" ::.~""'~
<br />
<br />I
<br />
<br />
<br />Photo by N. Iverson
<br />
<br />COMING: The community is invited to the Dedica-
<br />tion of Cross of Hope's new addition on Sunday,
<br />April 9th. Bishop David Olson of the Evangelical
<br />Lutheran Church in America will be present to lead
<br />in the celebration. Worship services will be at 9 and
<br />10:15 in the morning. An Open House will be from
<br />2-4 p.m. During this time, many musicians of the
<br />area will be presenting a concert series. The public
<br />is welcome to share in this festive day.
<br />
<br />LORD OF LIFE
<br />
<br />LUTHERAN CHURCH
<br />
<br />6139 157th Lane
<br />
<br />During Holy Week, services will be held as follows:
<br />Holy Wednesday (March 22) and Maundy Thursday
<br />(March 23) - "The Last Supper" at 6:30 P.M.; Good
<br />Friday Tenebrae Service (March 24) at 7:30 P.M.;
<br />Holy Saturday Easter Vigil Service at 7:30 P.M., with
<br />the Sanctuary open for private prayer from 8:45 to
<br />10:00 P.M. Easter Sunday will begin with a Sunrise
<br />Service at 6:00 P.M., led by the Senior High Youth.
<br />Three more services will be held that morning - at
<br />8:00, 9:30 and 11 :00 A.M. An Easter breakfast will
<br />also be served by the youth of the church.
<br />
<br />In light of the importance of these meetings, not
<br />only did we need to overcome technical problems,
<br />we have spent time clarifying our policies and pro-
<br />cedures for handling these important and sometimes
<br />sensitive proceedings. Effective meeting coverage
<br />does not start when the cameras are turned on, and
<br />stop when they are turned off.
<br />One of the first questions that needed to be
<br />answered was, would the meetings be covered live,
<br />or taped for a later cablecast? The answer was
<br />dependent on logistics of available equipment for
<br />both coverage purposes and playback purposes.
<br />The Commission purchased the necessary audio,
<br />video and playback equipment to allow for both live
<br />coverage and taped playback. Live coverage pro-
<br />vides for slightly more credibility, however, once the
<br />meeting is taped every effort will be made to
<br />schedule the recast as soon after a meeting as
<br />possible.
<br />One way QCTV-33 has established meeting
<br />credibility is to tape the meetings from gavel to gavel.
<br />In fact, QCTV-33 has adopted a policy of not editing
<br />public meetings. This is done primarily to avoid
<br />charges of bias or editorializing.
<br />Another policy question was who will run the
<br />cameras and other related equipment? Again, that
<br />answer was dependent on the logistics of our opera-
<br />tion. QCTV-33 does not have an abundance of
<br />employees, but has established a budget sufficient
<br />to use a combination of paid volunteers and interns,
<br />supervised by our staff.
<br />There were two final issues that needed to be
<br />resolved before the cameras were turned on: who
<br />owns the program? and how long to keep the
<br />meeting tapes? The answers were relatively simple.
<br />QCTV-33 retains ownership of the content of any
<br />program produced with Commission equipment or
<br />facilities and member cities will be entitled to one
<br />free dub of a program. The dub is provided upon a
<br />request basis only. A meeting tape will be held in
<br />program stock for a minimum of a two week period
<br />following the close of the meeting. A policy also ex-
<br />ists which specifies the procedure for requesting a
<br />dub and dub fees. These tapes are not being us-
<br />ed, nor are they intended, as a permanent record.
<br />Covering public meetings provides a valuable ser-
<br />vice to the community. It also provides QCTV-33 a
<br />direct link to our policitalleadership. Further, it gives
<br />us the opportunity to educate the cable TV
<br />subscriber about our municipal or our community
<br />operation. If it is done well, everyone wins!!
<br />Look for more information describing the new
<br />direction and program format of the community
<br />channel 33 and the library channel 53 in future
<br />issues of the city newsletter.
<br />
<br />r
<br />
<br />RAMSEY LIONS
<br />
<br />DISTRIBUTION THANK YOU
<br />
<br />Many Lions got up early Saturday, February 18th,
<br />to help carry food and dairy products to a senior
<br />citizen distribution center. For all the Lions who roil-
<br />ed up their sleeves, thank you for helping others, and
<br />for showing everyone that the Lions serve!
<br />
<br />55-ALIVE
<br />
<br />Seniors from Ramsey and Burns will be able to par-
<br />ticipate in the 55-Alive driving program beginning on
<br />the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of April. All those who
<br />are interested in this unique skills project are invited
<br />to meet at Jimmy B's on Hwy. 10. The program will
<br />start at 6 p.m. and last until 10 p.m. each time.
<br />
<br />DONATIONS! DONATIONS!
<br />
<br />$1,000.000 to the Presidential Scholarship fund at
<br />Anoka-Ramsey Community College.
<br />$200.00 to provide for snacks and orange juice,
<br />when Anoka Senior H.S. has their bloodmobile drive.
<br />$200.00 for the Anoka Seniors Prom
<br />$200.00 for the Elk River Seniors Prom. Both of
<br />these schools have an all-night entertainment
<br />schedule for area seniors after the prom dance. The
<br />past success of these two programs cannot be
<br />overstated in providing a safe release from the suc-
<br />cessful culmination of 4 years of high school rigors.
<br />Do you remember what you did after the prom, think
<br />about it!
<br />$144.25 for an eye exam and glasses for a Ramsey
<br />youth.
<br />
<br />PROPERTY TAX
<br />REFUND PROGRAM
<br />
<br />It's tax season and Anoka County Commissioner
<br />Natalie Haas Steffen would like to remind residents
<br />of a property tax refund program adopted by the
<br />1988 legislature.
<br />Briefly, this program provides a refund of 75 per-
<br />cent of any tax increase payable in 1989 above 10
<br />percent on homestead property, up to a maximum
<br />refund of $250. To qualify, the increase must exceed
<br />$40 and cannot be attributable to improvements
<br />made to the property. There are no income limita-
<br />tions. The following is a set of examples of how the
<br />refund program operates:
<br />Example 1:
<br />1988 Tax: $1,000
<br />1989 Tax: $1,200
<br />Increase: $ 200
<br />
<br />10% of 1988 Tax: $ 100
<br />Increase Above 10%: $ 100
<br />
<br />Refund ($100 x 74%) $ 75
<br />
<br />To apply for this refund, a homeowner must com-
<br />plete the regular property tax refund (circuit breaker)
<br />return, Form M 1-PR. This is the gold-colored booklet
<br />often mailed with state income tax forms and instruc-
<br />tions in January. Copies of this form and instructions
<br />are also available at public libraries or by phoning
<br />the Department of Revenue at 296-3781.
<br />Forms must be filed by August, 1989 and refund
<br />checks will be sent out in September along with
<br />regular property tax refunds. For more information,
<br />call the Department of Revenue at 296-3781.
<br />
<br />SCHOOL DISTRICT VOTING
<br />PRECINCTS REVISED
<br />
<br />The Anoka-Hennepin School Board has propos-
<br />ed combining precincts in all municipalities served
<br />by the school district for School Board elections.
<br />Historically, School Board elections do not draw as
<br />many voters as general elections so there is no need
<br />to have as many election precincts as in a general
<br />election.
<br />The School Board has asked that residents review
<br />the proposed plan. All comments and suggestions
<br />regarding the proposed changes should be directed
<br />to Janet Davenport, Governmental/Public Relations
<br />Director, Anoka-Hennepin School District, 11299
<br />Hanson Blvd. N.W., Coon Rapids, MN 55433. The
<br />following are the proposed changes:
<br />Proposed combinations of precincts which would
<br />result in one polling place in a city.
<br />Andover-All precincts vote at Andover Community
<br />Center
<br />Brooklyn Park-All precincts vote at Monroe
<br />Elementary School
<br />Brooklyn Center-All precincts vote at Evergreen
<br />Park Elementary School
<br />Champlin-All precincts vote at Champlin City Hall
<br />Dayton-All precincts vote at Dayton Elementary
<br />School
<br />Ham Lake-All precincts vote at Ham Lake City hall
<br />Ramsey, Oak Grove, and Burns-All precincts vote
<br />at Ramsey City Hall
<br />There are also proposed combinations of precincts
<br />in Anoka, Blaine, and Coon Rapids. If interested, ad-
<br />ditional info is available at Ramsey City Hall.
<br />
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