tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8870007244289831779.comments2021-03-02T13:30:14.366-06:00Savage Lake, Little Canada, MinnesotaT.W. Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04078254371483458356noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8870007244289831779.post-5678949375973357452021-03-02T13:30:14.366-06:002021-03-02T13:30:14.366-06:00I was at that party to. That was close to the high...I was at that party to. That was close to the high point of my McNally Smith experience. Thanks for sharing your wonderful home. Dan TAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8870007244289831779.post-32816367654009142552019-04-15T09:21:05.352-05:002019-04-15T09:21:05.352-05:00No, our place was on Lake Shore Avenue. No, our place was on Lake Shore Avenue. T.W. Dayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04078254371483458356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8870007244289831779.post-14359599559248683712019-04-15T09:15:37.740-05:002019-04-15T09:15:37.740-05:00When I graduated from McNally Smith College in 200...When I graduated from McNally Smith College in 2008, you hosted the graduation party for our class at your home. It was fun to see the place again and to remember that great party. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8870007244289831779.post-36930840014865145152018-12-24T04:00:31.723-06:002018-12-24T04:00:31.723-06:00Is your old home you're talking about at 243 d...Is your old home you're talking about at 243 dermont ave east? If so it's for sale at 234,000 it has a beautiful view of the lake I'm casually looking to buy a home and I want it to be on a lake and under 300,000 and this is one of the few homes like that in St Paul or in Minneapolis for that matter.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09005723173071050029noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8870007244289831779.post-16240787853184581442018-10-15T06:11:48.352-05:002018-10-15T06:11:48.352-05:00I'm sorry to hear all of that. I'm not sur...I'm sorry to hear all of that. I'm not surprised, though. Like many of the best features of Little Canada, Savage Lake is abused, misused, and ignored by the city, county, and state government employees and elected officials. At least our old home looks lived in and enjoyed. I hope you are happy in your new home. T.W. Dayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04078254371483458356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8870007244289831779.post-68825810831412637922018-05-12T11:59:35.531-05:002018-05-12T11:59:35.531-05:00We left our home in Little Canada a couple of year...We left our home in Little Canada a couple of years after you and Elvy moved. The wall did nothing to reduce the noise and we decided looking at the damn thing was worse than seeing the freeway traffic. It was like being in a confinement facility and the lake pollution is much worse than when you were here. The city is useless. Nobody in the city office cares about this lake and the DNR won't even do the minimal work to test the pollution and silt. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8870007244289831779.post-35494453801355066972015-12-04T21:25:19.223-06:002015-12-04T21:25:19.223-06:00No, we never managed to make much of a dent in the...No, we never managed to make much of a dent in the neighborhood's ownership of the lake. The city, county (Watershed District), and state (DNR) are all pretty much willing to allow the lake to turn into a muddy mosquito nest and drainage ditch for the freeway runoff and without lakeshore owner involvement I don't see good things in store for the lake. The new sound barrier will make dredging the lake impossible and it will also put the lake out of sight for everyone but the lakeshore owners. T.W. Dayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04078254371483458356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8870007244289831779.post-79772424100424311702015-05-05T10:39:50.759-05:002015-05-05T10:39:50.759-05:00Congratulations on selling your beautiful home. Di...Congratulations on selling your beautiful home. Did you ever manage to organize a lake shore owners group?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8870007244289831779.post-37795000970539030562015-04-22T20:07:40.937-05:002015-04-22T20:07:40.937-05:00'Bye and good luck!'Bye and good luck!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8870007244289831779.post-31446570686350696162015-03-21T05:49:32.672-05:002015-03-21T05:49:32.672-05:00See ya. Don't let the door hit you in the ass ...See ya. Don't let the door hit you in the ass on your way out. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8870007244289831779.post-74845481187762639942014-12-17T21:36:26.978-06:002014-12-17T21:36:26.978-06:00I meant to address Tom, not Joel.I meant to address Tom, not Joel.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8870007244289831779.post-90245309053239019872014-12-17T21:34:30.217-06:002014-12-17T21:34:30.217-06:00Hey Joel,
If you ever want to write up a petition ...Hey Joel,<br />If you ever want to write up a petition to stop the abuse of the siren, I'm on your side. Just send your petition up Noel Dr.<br /><br />Hope you guys can save Savage Lake too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8870007244289831779.post-20035980968070481802014-11-04T08:18:52.351-06:002014-11-04T08:18:52.351-06:00I'd love to be able to say I'm surprised a...I'd love to be able to say I'm surprised at this response, but I'm not. An often missed fact about lakes like Savage is the idea that everything upstream from "real lakes like Gervais" flows downstream. The water contamination, the invasive species, and the allowed environmental damage to Savage Lake will work its way to Gervais. For example, spending millions to clear Gervais of milfoil and surface scum is wasted when Savage continues to provide seeds for those contaminates into the stream that feeds Gervais. <br /><br />The freeway does need "catch basins," but they should be designed to prevent existing waterways. Using our lake as a wastewater pond is not only illegal but short sighted. Many of us have designed our yards around providing natural plant "filters" and improving drainage to keep yard contaminates from the lake. That work seems pointless if the state is going to dump freeway crap straight into the lake. <br /><br />It always amazes me when people disregard their most precious resources. Your response adds to that. T.W. Dayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04078254371483458356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8870007244289831779.post-44464196447080626452014-11-01T09:41:59.995-05:002014-11-01T09:41:59.995-05:00The attention your blog is bringing to this nasty ...The attention your blog is bringing to this nasty little ditch is drawing away funds and efforts from real lakes like Gervais and Round Lakes and our city parks. We'll be glad to see you gone and I hope no one takes over your pathetic blog. Savage is nothing more than a catch basin for freeway runoff as it should be. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8870007244289831779.post-20191162891118588112013-12-16T17:57:15.664-06:002013-12-16T17:57:15.664-06:00I completely agree! California had a good drought...I completely agree! California had a good drought backin the late 80's and Carole and I walked across a resevoir with no measurable water left in it. Very sad thing to see. Makes me glad I live in the land of 10,000 and hope we can manage whatever droughts come our way. <br /><br />As for our little lake, all is calm right now as it is under a blanket of snow. We have had 1/2-2 inches of snow 11 of the 16 days so far in December and it has been very cold with extended stretches of below zero weather (and winter isn't even officially here yet). You may recall a doe living on our lake with a broken left front leg. I had noticed her shortly after moving here and watched her many times as she hung out on the opposite side of the lake and seemed to be getting along pretty well on 3 legs (the left front had atrophied and contracted up to her chest). Sadly, it appears she went through the ice after the first hard freeze and couldn't get herself out. After that first ice melted I noticed her floating across the lake and thought she would end up on my beach so asked Paul if I could use his canoe to to drag her out to the island where nature could better deal with it. As it was too late to go out that day, I decided to wait until the next day. However the wind was too high and then it got really cold. She ended up freezing into the lake just about 30 yards out from your place. The only thing sticking out of the water was her upper chest and shoulder. An Eagle spotting this and between it and many crows, it didn't take long for them to stip this exposed area to the bone which allowed any gases builtup in the chest cavity to escape. I suspect that is a good thing as this spring when the ice melts it will just sink to the bottom and be good food for the turtles and what not. <br /><br />All appears well at your Hacienda. I see your house sitter every now and then and he seems to be keeping up with all these little snow events. So on that note I will end this and wish you both a very merry Xmas and happy travels!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8870007244289831779.post-11365589879758346872013-04-13T13:11:13.523-05:002013-04-13T13:11:13.523-05:00Wow! I've always been surprised a the Minnesot...Wow! I've always been surprised a the Minnesota distain for the state's most plentiful and valuable asset: water. You've set a new standard for that odd behavior. T.W. Dayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04078254371483458356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8870007244289831779.post-43836599591509014332013-02-16T10:19:27.512-06:002013-02-16T10:19:27.512-06:00I stumbled onto your blog when I was looking for t...I stumbled onto your blog when I was looking for the Minnesota city, Savage. I drive past your "lake" every day on my way to work in downtown St. Paul. You are clearly not from here because any selfrespecting Minnesotan would know that is not a lake, but a drainage ditch. "Protecting" a drainage ditch from freeway runoff is as stupid as paying taxes. The purpose of your pitiful little ditch is to contain the freeway overflow so that it doesn't end up in real lakes and rivers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8870007244289831779.post-20217894697705260002012-05-24T10:52:22.119-05:002012-05-24T10:52:22.119-05:00That's an interesting perspective. I lived in ...That's an interesting perspective. I lived in a lot of Midwestern small towns during my first 30 years of life and never experienced programmed noon and six noise before Little Canada. I don't get the "small town feeling" caused by unnecessary noise. One of the draws small towns have is quiet. Of course, Little Canada is out of luck in that regard. Most recently, we had a party in our backyard and when the 6PM alarm went off, everyone looked at me wondering what that was about. The expressions were similar to what you seen when some bozo blubbers through the neighborhood on an unmuffled Harley. <br /><br />When I explained the "purpose" of the noise, most of our friends said "I couldn't live somewhere with that going on." For the rest of my life, it will be something I ask about before I consider buying property in a town or city. <br /><br />If you do a Google search on "emergency siren confusion," you'll find plenty of evidence that the sirens are ineffective and obsolete, when used for actual emergencies. However, it should be common sense that dilutes alarms for non-emergencies dillutes the siren effectiveness when there is an actual emergency. This is an interesting article about one county trying to clean up the siren mess: http://www.fox19.com/story/17274377/changes-coming-to-severe-weather-warning-system?clienttype=printable.T.W. Dayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04078254371483458356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8870007244289831779.post-84791400143142902392012-05-23T23:06:46.368-05:002012-05-23T23:06:46.368-05:00Guess it isn't too hard to figure out what eac...Guess it isn't too hard to figure out what each siren is intended for. I enjoy the small town feeling of the sirens and even my children know what each siren is sounded for.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8870007244289831779.post-6887547512987247702010-10-02T20:13:15.840-05:002010-10-02T20:13:15.840-05:00Cam,
As best I can tell, the Watershed District a...Cam,<br /><br />As best I can tell, the Watershed District and the DNR are entities with a variety of authorities and no identifiable responsibilities. I don't think the city had much input into the original drainage screw-up, but I have been less than impressed with the city authorities' willingness to take on the Watershed District's "experts" or the DNR's authority. I was a little depressed with the lack of a response from the DNR to Bev Scalze's letter. If that bureaucracy doesn't feel any responsibility to a state representative, I wonder if anything short of a class action lawsuit would get their attention?<br /><br />The DOT's use of the lake as a drainage in the freeway design seems like a blatant abuse of authority and disregard for law and decency. I, too, would be interested in seeing the "DNR permit granted for the [freeway] expansion," for a couple of reasons. First, the drainage plan had to have been barely considered, if at all. Second, the noise estimates for the freeway expansion was totally falsified. The "expert" used for that report was almost perfectly clueless about noise transmission and noise measurement. Couple all that with the fact that the Watershed District employees were unable to make a simple water level measurement before they hosed up the original drain plan and you have to wonder what our tax money buys us.<br /><br />If you have a plan, count me in. When government is this unresponsive it doesn't serve a useful purpose.T.W. Dayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04078254371483458356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8870007244289831779.post-28226348289618350052010-10-02T19:53:38.782-05:002010-10-02T19:53:38.782-05:00Tom:
Gotta say that while I appreciate the fact th...Tom:<br />Gotta say that while I appreciate the fact that the city will apply for and pay for the permits for one more year, the original responsibility for the problem lies squarely with the Watershed District, the City and the DNR, who took unilateral action that changed the nature of the lake, on our side at least. I am not of a mind to allow them to wriggle out of on-going responsibility for addressing the long-term consequences of their actions.<br /><br />I know, I sound all brave, but I clearly do not know what holding them accountable might entail. Just need to vent and see if there is anyone else out there with a similar thought.<br />--Cam OyenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8870007244289831779.post-15592910436862184082010-09-20T17:05:01.345-05:002010-09-20T17:05:01.345-05:00Tom,
Thank you to you and John for all your effor...Tom,<br /><br />Thank you to you and John for all your efforts. We too have been enjoying seeing some life again on the lake. Will thinks the herbicide may still be working systemically through the plants, so we might see more effect next spring. However, it will be important to hit them again early. Thanks for the blogsite that keeps us all informed.<br /><br />The MarshesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8870007244289831779.post-47184205864749537432010-09-19T15:43:08.951-05:002010-09-19T15:43:08.951-05:00Good job, guys. We haven't been on the lake ye...Good job, guys. We haven't been on the lake yet, but we can now. Thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8870007244289831779.post-71170253274672217542010-09-05T21:14:04.758-05:002010-09-05T21:14:04.758-05:00I offered to help Bev, and whoever might show up f...I offered to help Bev, and whoever might show up from the DNR, get out on the lake and look at the plants and lack of animals, but Ms. Scalze replied: <br /><br />Thomas,<br /><br />Thanks for the offer. I have spoken with Steve Hirsch of the DNR, and I don't think they are interested in looking at the situation other than having Sean Sisler continue to look for "evidence" of recreational use.<br /><br /><br /><br />Bev Scalze<br />State Representative, 54B<br />357 State Office Building<br />100 Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd<br />St. Paul MN 55155<br />651/296-7153<br />651/296-4165 (fax)<br />rep.bev.scalze@house.mnT.W. Dayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04078254371483458356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8870007244289831779.post-67621812723126826892010-08-30T18:44:07.228-05:002010-08-30T18:44:07.228-05:00Will,
I can see their reluctance to opening up ru...Will,<br /><br />I can see their reluctance to opening up rules to interpretation and common sense. The DNR is pretty much a vacuum in that regard. Issuing one of our neighbors a blanket permit to destroy all of the goose eggs, on his property and the island, shows an inability to do much thinking and a complete disregard for those residents who disagree with that action. <br /><br />The problem in that bureaucracy is that no one takes actual responsibility for their actions. In a functioning business (a variety that also seems to be vanishing), an employee who violated reasonable rules and caution would be fired or demoted. The DNR and much of the state government bureaucracy appear to be tenured. I can't imagine what they could do to get fired for incompetence, negligence, or even lethargy. With our budget imbalance, you'd think they would be on edge to prove their value to taxpayers, instead of arrogantly flaunting their authority. I'd think anyone who can't find at least $500 million to cut from the DNR's budget missed out on some basic math classes. <br /><br />regards,<br />TomT.W. Dayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04078254371483458356noreply@blogger.com