Recent Entries

The Eastside Pioneers Neighborhood Association (ESPNA) is very concerned, like most of Rochester, about the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern (DME) and Canadian Pacific (CP) railroad’s ever increasing profile within our community. We are alarmed by the speed of these huge trains in such a densely populated area. We need to act now, before November 1, in order to have any impact at all on the transportation issue that is now before us.

Since the Canadian Pacific (CP) railroad acquired the DME, in 2008, there has been a noticeable increase in activity on the railroad corridor. The lengths of the trains have become longer and the DME has installed new heavy welded rail through our city and our neighborhood. Only a few weeks ago they raised the speed of their trains through Rochester to thirty miles per hour. Even more worrisome is that some of those fast moving lengthy trains have rows of black ethanol tanker cars equipped with the volatile hazardous chemical signs on them.

The city of Rochester has several post secondary educational institutions providing services to our community.

But is the educational curriculum provided diverse enough to attract a wide range of students? Hopefully Rochester is not losing talented post secondary students, an essential ingredient to our future, because we are only providing limited course curriculum and degree programs.

Rochester is the third largest city in Minnesota, we need a fully accredited four year university that provides a wide array of courses in all subjects and awards several advanced undergraduate as well as graduate level degrees

Rochester has seen several significant changes taking place over the past few years to the Highway 52 corridor. These changes came about to accommodate heavier traffic usage from a growing population center.

Rochester has experienced a great deal of growth over the years and it appears the trend will continue for some time in the future. It makes sense for Rochester to invest in transportation infrastructure improvements.

Rochester has to look to the future and plan accordingly if it wants to grow and remain successful. We need to take a hard look at our other two forms of transportation, air and rail as well.

Curtis Sliwa, CEO and founder of the Guardian Angels is coming to Rochester on Sunday August 30. He will be presenting the Rochester Guardian Angels Safety Patrol with Certificates of Achievement at a graduation ceremony scheduled for 2:00 PM at Gilligan’s located at 11 Fourth Street SE.

Curtis is a highly respected grass-roots leader, community activist, patriot, motivator, and “role model for real life,” He is also host of WABC News/Talk Radio’s The Curtis Sliwa Show. A charismatic and sought-after communicator, he has addressed Super Bowl crowds, corporate teams, media professionals, senior executives, non-profit associations, and educators. His powerful, uplifting messages of overcoming fear and adversity to achieve self-reliance and contribute to one’s community take on important new relevance in corporate and institutional environments.

"Saturdays at Slatterly Music & Movies in the Park"

July 25th:
6:30pm Concessions Start
7:00-9:00pm Live in Band "Titan the Screw"
9:30pm Outdoor Movie "Kung Fu Panda"

No carry-in food or beverages, please support Slatterly Park Concessions at the event, everything is $1.00
No Alcohol permitted-
Children under 12 must be accompanied by a parent
Please bring lawn chairs and blankets

Event Location: Saturdays at Slatterly Location

The Eastside Pioneers Neighborhood Association is very interested in the discussions surrounding the proposed Southern Railroad corridor. We strongly encourage other neighborhood associations to take an interest in this effort to build on Rochester's future.

Southern Rail Corridor Informational Open House Schedules

WHAT:
Leaders from Olmsted and Dodge Counties will co-host public informational open house sessions to talk
with community members about the Southern Rail Corridor proposal. The open house sessions will begin
at 5:30 p.m. with a short presentation at 6:00 p.m. Following the presentation, participants are invited to

Who/What:
1)Cimmaron Neighborhood Association Leaders
Marilyn Meyer
Pam Herman
Todd Hager

Information session on mobile neighborhood patrols

2) Nora Dooley Ph.D

Presentation on upcoming Rochester Education Summit

3) Patrick Connelly/John Wade Rochester Coalition

Update on Southern Rail Corridor

When/Where:
7 PM Thursday July 9 City of Life Outreach Center 804 East Center Street

There hasn’t been much happening on the Canadian Pacific/ Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern railroad front lately. The Eastside Pioneers Neighborhood Association (ESPNA) has been watching, however, a few interesting things regarding the railroad.

We are watching the actions of the railroad out west of here, in South Dakota and Wyoming, regarding land acquisition and the use of eminent domain. The railroad’s continued interest in acquiring ranch land along the route of their proposed Powder River Basin Project can mean only one thing- that they intend to go through with the project.

It seems inconceivable that the CP/DME would even think of trying to follow through on the Powder River Basin project, at this point in time, as the Obama administration has expressed such negative feelings towards coal and coal-fired power plants. An administration that seemingly favors renewable energy over greenhouse gas-emitting coal fired power plants may not be too conducive to the establishment of a third rail carrier into the Powder River Basin. Building into the Powder River Basin would in effect be a major investment into the coal-fired power plants energy industry infrastructure. This could pose a significant problem for the CP/DME’s Powder River Basin Project depending on where public opinion falls on the cost of clean energy.

President Barack Obama has pledged to undertake a new policy that might be called “aggressive diplomacy” in dealing with long-standing problems in international relations.

It is aimed at peaceful settlement of issues that have threatened to result in open warfare. It would also be an abrupt reversal of the policies of George W. Bush that gave priority to military action.

An ideal place to start would be the long-standing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, which has resisted any permanent settlement. The recent attack by Israel in Gaza has demonstrated the frightful conditions that can result if no peaceful solution is ultimately reached. The U.S. could join with Egypt and other Middle Eastern nations and with our European allies in devising an agreement that could form the basis of a long-term peaceful relationship.

The tobacco companies have made news again.

The U.S. government has sued Atria, owner of the Philip Morris company, for deceptive advertising about light cigarettes. The government charged that the company’s ads stated --- falsely --- that light cigarettes are less harmful to smokers than regular cigarettes. The company denied the charge and plans to defend itself in court.

What is amazing about this is that the government is willing to take legal action to oppose a minor aspect of the tobacco companies’ operations, but has never thought of accusing them of murder. More than 430,000 people die every year of lung cancer and other ailments caused by cigarette smoking, but no one thinks about objecting to that.