Staff Spotlight: Meet Jamie!

You may have recently noticed one of our staff members, Jamie, working in your building's hallway. You also may have stopped to ask yourself, 'Is he driving a Zamboni in the hallway?!' Actually he's shampooing the hallway carpets! Jamie has worked for a long time for Condor Corporation and he's always striving to make our communities sparkling for our residents, one building at a time!

The winter months are always tough on the carpeting in our common areas due to the snow and salt that is tracked in by foot traffic. Remember to help keep your community looking top-notch and please wipe your feet on the mats in front of the doors. We all appreciate how everyone works together to make Salem Green Apartments a wonderful place to live.

Keep up your hard work Jamie!

Jamie's thinking a Zamboni would cover ten times the area and be that much faster!

Jamie shampooing our carpets one building at a time to make this place sparkling for our residents!

Electronics Recycling Available At Best Buy

Modern life is filled with electronic gadgets, from iPods to large flat screen TVs. What are you to do with it all when it stops working? Certainly don't put it into the trash, that only fills up our landfills with all kinds of things that could be recycled! One convenient way to recycle electronic items is to drop them off at Best Buy. As an electronics seller Best Buy has a program to accept electronics and send them to a recycling company. Not only does this make recycling electronics super easy, but it's free! They accept nearly everything electronic, including tube TVs and monitors up to 32", flat-panel TVs and monitors up to 60", peripherals, DVD players, home and car audio, cell phones, fans, vacuums, MP3 players, and cables, appliances and desktop or laptop computers. To learn more about Best Buy's program or to check which items they accept for recycling, click here.

Making Weekend Plans: Check Out The Orchids At Como!

A special and brief showing of orchids is planned for this coming weekend at the Como Park Conservatory as a part of the Winter Carnival. The Orchid family is widely diverse in flower sizes and colors. Biologically they are among the most evolved flowers, having complex systems for reproduction, which gives the orchid flower its unique structure. We've re-posted the information from Como Conservatory's website below, and for directions or more information you can find the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory website here.

Winter Carnival Orchid Show
January 28-29, 10:00AM to 4:00PM. Special Admission Fee: $5 for adults and $3 for children ages 3-12 ($1 off admission with Winter Carnival button)

Hundreds of orchid plants owned by the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory, individuals, & commercial orchid growers transform the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory into a tropical wonderland where instead of King Boreas, orchids rule during the Orchid Society of Minnesota’s Winter Carnival Orchid Show.

Slick Deals On Ice Skating!

Has the winter kept you indoors for days on end and you think you're coming down with cabin fever? Here's a chance for you to get out and move around! The Inver Grove Heights Community Center is sponsoring several ice skating events for people of all ages and skating ability!

Skate School
This program is designed to turn everyone into an ice skater! There are a variety of classes which teach the fundamentals of skating to anyone ages 3 to adult. Classes meet on Tuesdays and Saturdays for 30 minutes, along with 30 minutes of practice time. The class fee includes four open skate passes for participants to use during public open skate times. Participants in the Learn to Skate program will also have the opportunity to be in the ice show on Friday, April 27!

Winter Sessions:
Tuesdays, Jan. 17-Feb. 21
Saturdays, Jan. 21-Feb. 25

Veterans Memorial Community Center
8055 Barbara Avenue, Inver Grove Heights, MN 55077
Visit their Open Skate and Hockey Hours page to find out more information on open skate times.

Free Hockey Day Minnesota
Enjoy Hockey Day MN at Skyview Park! You can jam with some tunes, try your luck in the hockey skills contests and enjoy hot chocolate and treats in this FREE event! No skate rental is available.

Saturday, January 21, 1:00 PM
Skyview Park
6765 Dawn Way, Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076

Super Skate
For all ages with adult
Dress up as your favorite football team and enjoy a night with your family on the rink! Skate to music, play some games and enjoy a treat! A great way to get geared up for Super Bowl Sunday!

 Saturday, February 4, 6:00 PM -7:30 PM
Veterans Memorial Community Center
8055 Barbara Avenue, Inver Grove Heights, MN 55077

Check Out The Winter E-Newsletter!

Our winter newsletter is now available on our website. Stay up to date on what is happening around your apartment community and check out the helpful reminders. The Salem Green newsletter can be found here.

Elevator Maintenance Requires One Day Closure Of Elevator.

Next week, from Monday, January 23 to Friday, January 27, you'll see some maintenance work on the elevator in your building. We're making maintenance repairs in each building at Salem Green, one building at a time. This means that one day during the week your building's elevator will be closed and unavailable. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you while we undergo this necessary maintenance. Please check out the schedule below for the day that your building's elevator will be out of service.

1475 Building: Monday Jan 23rd 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM

1465 Building: Tuesday Jan 24th 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM

1405 Building: Wednesday Jan 25th 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM

1445 Building: Thursday Jan 26th 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM

1455 Building: Friday Jan 27th 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM

How Cute! Susan With Her Twin Granddaughters.

We got this wonderful photo of one of our staffers that we just have to share with you! Susan and her beautiful twin granddaughters Pacey and Kennadi! Susan has worked for us for about 8 years now. Her twin granddaughters were born on Sept. 26th!

Susan holding her twin granddaughters, Pacey and Kennadi.

Dakota County Offers Emergency Alerts Via Phone.

You can get emergency alerts on your phone.

Ever wonder where those emergency vehicles are going and if it will affect your day? Well now you can know. The Dakota County Communications center is offering emergency alerts on a “Mass Telephone Notification System”. So if there is a public emergency that may affect the health, safety or welfare of the community, you can elect to receive a notice to your home, work or cell phone.

Emergency Alerts Include:
Pandemic outbreaks, chemical spills, building evacuations and other threats to public safety

Residents with “land-line” telephone numbers most likely were automatically entered into the notification system. Residents may provide alternate phone numbers or an email address to ensure you receive all messages.  To confirm your number or to register your phone number visit www.mn-dcc.org (look for Mass Telephone Notification System” or call 651-322-8644 for more information.

The contact information provided for the Mass Telephone Notification System will not be sold or made public.

January: National Blood Donor Month

From National Blood Donor Month to National Kazoo Day, January is packed with unique commemorative designations and holidays and they range from the important to the silly.

One of the more important designations for January is National Blood Donor Month. January typically sees blood donations drop since the wintery month is cold, dark and situated right after the holidays. All of these factors make it more likely that donors will struggle to make their appointments during this month. Thus January has been given a special designation in hopes that people like you will step forward to donate during the first month of the year!

Nearly 10 million people donate blood every year; this month especially the American Red Cross wants you to be one of the 10 million. When you donate blood you are saving lives. Every two seconds someone is in need of donated blood. To keep up with that kind of demand 38,000 donations are needed every day. With only one pint of blood you can save up to three lives!

Here is a local place that you can donate blood:

Memorial Blood Centers (Premier Bank Building)

500 W 98^th St.

Bloomington, MN 55420

Phone: 612-871-3300

While the blood drive effort lasts all month long, there are also some very interesting holidays during January.

January 18

• Winnie the Pooh Day which was created to celebrate the birth of the author of Winnie the Pooh, A. A. Milne on January 18, 1882. Celebrate today by reading some of your favorite storybooks of the adventures of Winnie the Pooh!

January 19

• Edgar Allan Poe’s Birthday (1/19/1809 – 10/7/1849) Edgar Allan Poe was an author, poet, editor and literary critic. One of his famous works is “The Raven” which was published in 1845 which made him a household name. 

January 23

• Chinese New Year is the longest and most important event in the Chinese calendar.  Chinese months are determined by the lunar calendar.  In China, people will take weeks off from work to prepare for this celebration. Legend says that Buddha asked all of the animals to meet him on the Chinese New Year, when only 12 animals showed up Buddha named a year after each of them. It is said that someone who is born in the year of a particular animal will have traits like that animal. 2012 is the year of the dragon and it is said that those born in the year of the dragon are said to be brave, innovative and passionate.
• January 23 is also National Pie Day! According to a 2004 survey Apple pie is the most popular pie followed by Pumpkin pie and Sweet Potato pie. 

January 25 

• Opposite Day.

January 27

• Fun at work Day. Have a blast everyone!
• Holocaust Memorial Day. This day to remember the victims of the holocaust. This day of remembrance began in 2001 and is held on the anniversary of the liberation of the Aushwitz concentration camp by the Soviet Union in 1945.
• Also sharing January 27 is Chocolate Cake Day. Who says cake is just for birthdays?  Let there be cake!

January 28

• Christa McAuliffe Day (11/2/1948 – 1/28/1986) Christa was one of the seven crew members killed in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. She was a teacher who took part in the NASA Teacher in Space Project founded by President Ronald Reagan. Christa was selected from among 11,000 applicants to participate in a program designed to increase the public’s interest in the shuttle program and remind Americans the important role that teachers serve in their country. On Jan.28, 2986 the space shuttle disintegrated just 73 seconds after being launched. Since the death of Christa McAuliffe many schools and scholarships have been named in Christa’s honor.
• January 28 is also National Kazoo Day.

Happy Birthday Peyton!

Happy Birthday Peyton, one of our Salem Green Apartments residents! She just celebrated her first birthday on Jan 10th in our party room and it sure looks like she had fun with that cake!

Happy Birthday Peyton!

Now the party has started!

Latest New Releases

The Rental Office just received these new releases, ready and available for you to check out! Also, a new selection of old favorites is now available. Spend a cold night snuggled up inside your home with one of these flicks:

An Oddly Warm January!

AJ didn't need much winter gear earlier in January

The temperature has finally taken a dive for the colder, but this January started out as one of the warmest weather. We have this photo of AJ, one of our residents, who was found taking advantage of the nice temperatures and not wearing much weather gear to stay warm! Who would have thought we would have this amazing weather in January?

The MN Climate Working Group and National Weather Service released this statement:
"There has never been a 60 degree temperature recorded during the first week of January in Minnesota's modern climate record. The warmest temperature ever recorded in Minnesota during the first week of January is 59 degrees, occurring on January 7, 2003 in Amboy, MN. The warmest temperature ever recorded in Minnesota on January 5 is 57 degrees, recorded at Crookston in 1902. Reaching 60 degrees ANY time ANYWHERE in January is quite rare, occurring in only 10 years of the 120 year modern record. The all-time record high temperature for any day in January is 69 degrees, occurring January 24, 1981 in Montevideo."

All In A Day's Work For Tim, 1405's Caretaker

Tim smiling and sweeping!

Today we put the spotlight on Tim, our caretaker for Salem Green's 1405 building. Everyday Tim spends time making sure the building and parking lots and grounds are clean and that trash is picked up. Please help keep Salem Green looking great by disposing of your trash and cigarette butts in the proper containers. It helps Tim out and it makes your home look great! The next time you see Tim in the hallway or the parking lot, stop and say hello!

Today Is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is held on the 3rd Monday of January each year which is near Dr. King’s birthday on January 15th.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was the main spokesman for nonviolent activism in the civil rights movement. His speeches successfully protested racial discrimination in federal and state law. Dr. King is remembered often for his “I have a dream speech”.

Here is an excerpt from that famous speech:

“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of "interposition" and "nullification" -- one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."

This is our hope, and this is the faith that I go back to the South with.

With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.”

The campaign for a federal holiday to honor Dr. King began soon after he was assassinated in 1968. President Ronald Reagan signed this holiday into law in 1983, though it was not officially observed until 1986. Even still some states were hesitant on celebrating this holiday. It was not until the year 2000 that all 50 states observed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Oh My! It's Friday The 13th!

It’s Friday the 13th!!!!!

Superstitions surrounding Friday the 13th comes from many sources, one being derived from the Last Supper and a Norse myth that having thirteen people seated at a table will be the death of one of those people. Friday the 13th has been considered unlucky by some since the 14th century. Friday has also been considered unlucky because according to Christian scripture Jesus was crucified on a Friday. Many myths consider the 13th to be an unlucky day to travel or begin new projects. Black Friday has historically referred to stock market crashes and other major disasters since 1869 when the gold market crashed on a Friday and subsequently caused the stock market to crash.

The media plays a role in promoting this fear in society. Each year we see horror movies centering on Friday the 13th being released, and this fear is often featured in the news.

The fear of Friday the 13th is called Friggatriskaidekaphobia (Frigga being the name of the Norse goddess for whom "Friday" is named and triskaidekaphobia meaning fear of the number thirteen). There are an estimated 17 to 21 million people in the US that are afraid of this day. Some people have so much fear of Friday the 13th that they avoid their normal routines in doing business, traveling and even getting out of bed. Because of the lack of people traveling it has been estimated that $800-$900 million dollars are lost in business on this day.

The good news:
Because of the lack of travel and other activities on this day, it has been reported that there are fewer accidents and reports of fire or theft on Friday the 13th.

Pop Quiz! The Early Bird Gets What?

Congratulations to Tom, the winner of our Early Bird Drawing this month! Tom is super excited to get $50 off of his next month's rent! We do this drawing every month and you have a chance to be the winner if you pay your rent on or before the 1st of the month. Everyone who gets their rent in on the 1st, or before, gets their name put into the Early Bird Drawing. Out of that pool of entrants a random name is selected and the lucky winner gets $50 off of rent for the following month.

So when February's rent comes around don't forget the Early Bird Drawing and get your rent payment in early! We all know what the Early Bird gets... that's right, a chance to get $50 off of rent the next month!

The winner of our Early Bird Drawing this month is Tom. Congratulations Tom!

Happy Birthday Charity!

We recently had another birthday around Salem Green Apartments! On the 3rd of January Charity, one of our leasing consultants, turn 32! Charity was born in Mankato, MN, and on her birthday she had the whole day off and she cleaned all day and then went out to dinner with her family. We bet her place is just sparkling right now!

Charity turned 32 on January 3! Happy Birthday Charity!

Java Jive - It's Coffee Time At Salem Green!

At Salem Green Apartments we love it when our residents stop in to say hello. Come join us in the office for your fresh cup of coffee every morning. Get some caffeine and chat with the staff to find out the latest news around Salem Green. We'll have the coffee on, just waiting for you to stop by!

Dan, a Salem Green Apartments resident, recently stopped in to get a fresh cup of coffee to start his day out right!

Happy Birthday, Christine!

Join us in wishing Christine a hearty "Happy Birthday!" Christine, a leasing consultant for Salem Green Apartments, just turned 25! Her wonderful co-workers bought her a lovely cupcake-cake.

From everyone at Salem Green, Happy Birthday Christine!

Finally, a cake that's easy to slice! Happy Birthday, Christine!

Winter Fun at Lebanon Hills

We're deep in the winter months but that doesn't mean you can't get outside and have a fun time. One of the best kept secrets in our neck of the woods is Dakota County's Lebanon Hills park in Eagan. It's the largest Dakota County park with over 2,000 acres. It offers miles of trails and lots of trees and lakes to look at. And during the winter months snowshoes are available for rent at the Lebanon Hills Visitor Center in Lebanon Hills Regional Park so you can explore the snow covered trails.

In addition to equipment rentals, Lebanon Hills has lessons, sledding parties, and many more activities available on its calendar.

So turn that "brr" into a "brright" idea.