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Please help us welcome our newest Ward 5 team member Janie Vang!
Janie says: My family first immigrated from Laos to Tennessee. After I was born, we moved to Saint Paul where I attended school and graduated from Como High. In our pastime, my family and I like to go fishing! Since I started in December, it’s been a great experience working in Ward 5, I’m learning new things every, day and I look forward to working with all of you.
(Pictured from left to right: Council President Amy Brendmoen, Executive Assistant Janie Vang, Legislative Aide HwaJeong Kim)
Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) takes approximately 10-15 years to completely devastate a community’s ash trees. EAB is a jewel beetle native to north-eastern Asia that feeds on ash species. Females lay eggs in bark crevices on ash trees, and larvae feed underneath the bark of ash trees to emerge as adults in one to two years. Damage occurs in infested trees by larval feeding. The serpentine feeding galleries of the larvae disrupt the flow of nutrients and water, effectively girdling (killing) the tree as it is no longer able to transport sufficient water and nutrients to the leaves to survive. Now, 16 years since the original discovery, the City of Saint Paul’s EAB infestation has reached a critical stage.
The city has launched a new online search tool for residents to view the Boulevard Ash Tree Management Plan. You will be able to find trees that have been identified for treatment and complete removal in 2020 and beyond.
To look up EAB trees using the city's data base, use this link: Emerald Ash Tree Look Up
 "In a future world ravaged by global warming, people have lost the ability to dream, and the dreamlessness has led to widespread madness. The only people still able to dream are North America's indigenous population - and it is their marrow that holds the cure for the rest of the world. But getting the marrow - and dreams - means death for the unwilling donors. Driven to flight, a 15-year-old and his companions struggle for survival, attempt to reunite with loved ones, and take refuge from the 'recruiters' who seek them out to bring them to the marrow-stealing 'factories."
Read Brave Saint Paul is a new twist on the traditional city one-book program. Rather than a single book, the program revolves around a common theme relevant to our city. All readers — from our youngest children to our elders — are encouraged to engage in the program through reading, discussion, programming, and action. The 2020 Read Brave theme is “Our Climate Crisis.”
The current state of the environment affects all of us, from Saint Paul to countries across the globe. We have all played a part in how we got here, and we are all a part of the solution. Read Brave aims to unite residents around this topic — to seek understanding of the science, share stories about its impact, and work together toward solutions.
Looking to engage with your family around our climate crisis? The library has discussion questions for each book, check out the questions for If Polar Bears Disappeared here: https://sppl.org/blogs/post/discussion-questions-if-polar-bears-disappeared/
On January 7th, 2020 the new City Council was sworn in. For the first time in Council history, women make up five of the seven seats (a super majority!) A long way from 2015 when there was only one woman at the table. As Council President I was honored to host the Saint Paul Music Academy, the Creative Arts Secondary School, as well as spoken word artist Tish Jones, and activist Sydney Beane. I look forward to continuing to serve and celebrate our Ward 5 community in my third term as councilmember.
 
Don't forget I have community office hours at the Rice Street Library first and third Tuesdays of each month from 4-5:30 PM. Regardless of the weather, I'm happy to take a Lake Lap.
Call 651.266.8650 or email ward5@stpaul.gov to schedule.
Thanks for reading,
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