RNeighborWalks News

These walking routes were created to encourage walking and exploring in Rochester, Minnesota.

All routes begin and end at the Peace Plaza, in downtown Rochester.

1. Kutzky Park Neighborhood Walk
2. Historic SW Neighborhood Walk
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RNeighborWalks will be kicking off another six month walking program on July 17, 2007, from Mayo High School.

Once again, funded through a grant from BlueCross® BlueShield® and sponsored by Community Education, this walking program encourages people of all ages and from all parts of Rochester to walk in and learn more about the SE neighborhood. This is the second year of the program. The pilot program took place in the Riverside Central Elementary area, this session will use Mayo as it's starting point.

On April 10, the Olmsted County Public Healthy Department presented the 2007 Live for Others - Healthy Community Awards. The County Board room was packed full of Olmsted County citizens, from youth to seniors.

Last night, January 30, was the NeighborWalks Final Celebration in the Riverside Central Elementary Cafeteria. Over sixty neighbors met for this grand finale for a neighborhood walking program that has met weekly in South East Rochester since August 2006. Each Tuesday, people of all ages and walks of life have gathered together for one hour of free walking with neighbors, education, door prizes, and fun! Walk topics have included a garden tour, the old Homestead Neighborhood, neighborhood safety, the flood of 1978, community resources, and nutrition, just to list a few.

The Olmsted County Health Department organized another successful Walk to School Day on Wednesday, October 4.

On the fourth annual Walk to School Day, RNeighbors staff members Liana and Rene and Board member Bob Sixta, spent the morning at Riverside Central Elementary giving out encouragement, stickers, and healthy snacks to students.

On September 26, about 45 Rochester neighbors participated in the Flood of 1978 Walk, led by Phil and Sue Wheeler of Southeast Rochester.

It all started three weeks ago when I spent an entire beautiful Rochester day in my house. Other people were outside chatting with neighbors, tossing a Frisbee, and enjoying the blue skies and fluffy clouds overhead. Serendipitously, a friend tells me about the NeighborWalks kick-off event. Free exercise and door prizes! Sign me up!

We are so appreciative for the green thumbs of the Southeast neighborhood who opened up their gardens for our August 22 NeighborWalk Garden Tour.
Neighbors who opened up their yards for tours included:

• Fred and Shirley Vikse
  814 12th Ave SE
• Blaine, Heather, and Andrea Walker
  629 12th Ave SE
• Paul Wilson
  1204 5th St SE
• Doris Amundson
  813 6th St SE

We learned that the following garden manners are important to keep in mind when you're a garden guest.

• Do not pick any plant or remove any part of any plant from the garden. There will be times when you’d like to know the identity of a plant.
• Bring the gardener to the plant - not the plant to the gardener.
• Do not leave behind litter of any kind in the garden. Be sure to take away everything you brought into the garden.
 

Fred & Shirley shared their lovely garden with the NeighborWalk gang.
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Above photo: Door Prize Table at the NeighborWalks Kick-off, August 16, 2006

The following area businesses and organizations have generously provided door prizes that will be given away during each NeighborWalk. Great things have been donated including gift certificates, hats, books, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, foods, memberships...the list just goes on and on.

Please thank these businesses by your loyalty.

We give them all a big neighborly Thank You!