Apple Orchard Fun!

One of the best things about Autumn in Minnesota is picking apples! At quite a few area apple orchards you can enjoy picking apples, hayrides, corn mazes, petting zoos and spending time outside in this perfect fall weather. These are some great regional orchards that you are sure to enjoy. For additional information about hours, directions, and weekend events please check their websites or call ahead. Have fun!

Ride the Honeycrisp Express at Aamodt's Apple Farm!

Afton Apple
14421 So 90th Street
Hastings, MN 55033
651-436-8385
www.aftonapple.com

Aamodt’s Apple Farm
6428 Manning Ave
Stillwater, MN 55082
651-439-3127
www.aamodtsapplefarm.com

Emma Krumbee's Apple Orchard
E Enterprise Dr
Belle Plaine, MN 56011 ‎
http://emmakrumbees.com/apple-orchard/

Pine Tree Apple Orchard
450 Apple Orchard Road
White Bear Lake, MN 55110
651-429-7202
www.pinetreeappleorchard.com

Minnetonka Orchards
6530 County Rd 26
Minnetrista, MN 55364
763-479-6530
www.minnetonkaorchards.com

Apple Jack Orchard 
4875 37th Street SE
Delano, MN 55328
#763-972-6673
www.applejackorchards.com

Snicker caramel apple pie

Ingredients
· 1 pie crust
· 3 green apples diced
· 1/4 cup caramel ice cream topping
· 15-20 mini snickers chopped
· 2 1/2 cup COOL WHIP whipped topping softened
· 1/3 cup can sweetened condensed milk
· 2 ounces cream cheese (softened)

Instructions
1. Spread snickers on bottom of pie crust. Next layer the apples next. Then drizzle caramel on top.
2. Combine cool whip, cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk together in a small bowl and spread on top. (Side Note: I made this again and mixed the COOL WHIP, condensed milk and cream cheese in a bowl and then added the apples and snickers into that. Then I put it all in the pie crust. I think that way turned out great! )
3. Drizzle with caramel and a few snickers. Place in refrigerator for at least 4 hours. Take out about 5 minutes before serving and top with fresh apple slices. Enjoy!
4. **notes: this pie is best on the first day! If you want to keep the apples from browning, you can put a little lemon juice on them.

Kid Friendly Hike At Lebanon Hills This Saturday

Take a walk on the wild side! The National Wildlife Federation is holding their 4th annual Hike & Seek even at Lebanon Hills Park on September 28th in Eagan. This event is a great family outing that inspires a child’s sense of adventure by combining a hike and a fun scavenger hunt. This is a great way to get your family together and enjoy the crisp fall air and rediscover nature together.

If you are interested you can sign you and your family up at www.hikeandseek.org and then show up and be ready to spend some fun family time together.

Location:

Lebanon Hills Regional Park
860 Cliff Road
Eagan, MN 55123

Impossible to Resist - Tiger Scout Popcorn Salesman Visits the Office

Want to help out an entrepreneurial youngster in our community? Do you love popcorn? Then you had best read on about Samuel!

Samuel has been in the Boy Scouts for 2 years, and this year he is a Tiger scout. His favorite part of being a scout are the field trips to the police and fire station. He also enjoys making new friends and playing games. Samuel is currently selling popcorn to raise money for his pack. If you are interested, you can contact the rental office for more information.

Samuel is selling popcorn to raise money for the Boy Scouts!

Samuel giving Val the hard sell! We doubt she can resist.

Eight Years Of Excellence - Julie Celebrates An Anniversary

Julie, the property manager at Salem Green, is celebrating her eight-year anniversary with Condor Corporation. She started her career at Salem Green in 2005 as a Leasing Consultant and won the Maddox awards in 2008. Julie was promoted to Property Manager at Raven Hill, a Condor Corporation community in Burnsville. Julie was at Raven Hill for four years and then returned to Salem Green in August 2012 as the manager. 

 When asked what her favorite part of her job is, Julie said, “Doing her best to make the residents happy and to continue to call Salem Green their home.” Whenever Julie has any free time she likes to spend time with her beautiful daughter Josie (aka Josie Poo and Josie Potato). Some of you may have seen them walking the hallways in the morning or hanging out in the office at Salem Green.

Thank you for being such a valuable member of the Condor Corporation and Salem Green teams, your contributions and hard work are truly appreciated. We look forward to many more years of your success with Condor Corporation.

Julie, Manager at Salem Green, has been with Condor for 8 years!

Reserve a Garage Stall Before Winter Arrives

Winter is coming! Fear not, because remember - Salem Green has reserved underground parking available, but as winter rolls around the limited space get snapped up fast. There are still some garage stalls are available to rent for the winter months. To avoid being put on a waiting list, be sure to reserve yours early! 

Here are a few reminders for garage parking:

• Always drive slowly and cautiously in the garage, being especially careful when pulling out of a space or turning a corner. 
• Never park anywhere in the garage except in your assigned stall, even temporarily, or your vehicle may be towed at your expense. 
• Due to fire codes, no storage of any kind is allowed in the garage stalls. 
• Never run your car for an extended period of time in the garage. The build-up of exhaust fumes is dangerous to breathe. 
• Never leave your children unaccompanied in the garage area. 

Call the Rental Office if you would like to rent a garage stall, or if you have any further questions (651) 455-2277.

Are You Ready For Some Football?!

It’s that time of year again… it’s football season! Did you know that during an average Sunday NFL game approximately 12 million people tune in? Nearly two thirds of the American population watch, and football is the most popular sport in the United States. What is your favorite thing about football season? The game? The food? The football parties? Check out our contest for a $20.00 gift card to Jimmy John's and let us know which team you're rooting for!

Football Season Gift Card Drawing

Watching football is always better with great food. Salem Green residents, here's your chance to win a $20.00 gift card to Jimmy Johns, the gourmet sandwich shop that delivers right to Salem Green Apartments! Simply comment with your favorite football team on this blog post, or on our Facebook football contest post, or tweet us your favorite team on Twitter @SalemGreenApts. We'll hold the drawing at 2:00 pm on Monday, September 23rd.

Here's what the Salem Green staff loves about football season: 

Janelle: The players
Brittney: Going to Minnesota Vikings games
Valeria: The players, of course. The RUSH of a close game.
Steve: Watching Jared Allen break up plays.
Matt: Food - Chicken wings
Julie: The delicious food. Here is one of Julie's favorite go-to recipes for a football party:

Rotel Queso Recipe 

Ingredients:

• 1 brick of Velveeta Cheese

• 1lb of Jimmy Dean Sausage

• ½ Red Pepper, ½ Green Pepper, ½ Yellow Pepper (chopped into small pieces)

• ½ Red Onion

• 1 Can of Rotel diced tomatos and green chiles

Directions:
1.) Brown sausage and sauté with peppers and onion. Cook thoroughly.
2.) Combine everything in a crockpot on low.
3.) Enjoy!

Where To Watch:

Party Room

Remember, you can always rent the party room for your football parties. We recently installed a new 60” plasma TV, which is perfect for watching the game! There is also a small kitchenette and tables and counter space for all of your delicious football food and plenty of seating for all of your guests. Contact the office to reserve the party room.

Nearby Restaurant

Here are some local bars and restaurants that guarantee they will have NFL on whenever there is a game:

Buffalo Wild Wings
1458 S. Robert St.
West St. Paul, MN

Applebee’s
5855 Blaine Ave.
Inver Grove Heights, MN 55077

Jersey’s Bar & Grill
6449 Concord Blvd. E.
Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076

Outback Steakhouse
5723 Bishop Ave.
Inver Grove Heights, MN 55077

The September Six - Meet Your New Neighbors!

September has brought us a bunch of great new neighbors here at Salem Green. We're excited to introduce them to you, and if you see any of them around our community please be sure to say "Hello!"

We find that our residents choose Salem Green for a good variety of reasons. For some it is because we have a great selection of amenities, such as the fitness center and indoor and outdoor pools. For others it's our quiet lake-front view; and still others like our convenient access to several highways, which allows them to get to work quickly. Whatever the reason for bringing them to Salem Green, we're glad they are here. Please join us in extending a warm welcome to all of our new residents and neighbors!

Welcome to Salem Green Danny and Tom!

Welcome to Salem Green Nic!

Welcome to Salem Green Stan!

Welcome to Salem Green Christy!

Welcome to Salem Green Tom!

Renaissance Festival Is Still Fair Play

The Minnesota State Fair has come and gone, but are you still craving that sweet corn or turkey leg? Well, head over to the Renaissance Festival, which is running now through September 29.

Location: 3525 145th St W. Hwy 169, Shakopee, MN
Hours: Daily 9:00 am-7:00 pm
Free Parking

Prices: Adults: $21.95, Child ages 5-12: $12.95, Senior age 62+: $19.95

Activities:

• Live Armored Jousting
• Pony Rides
• Fencing
• 16 stages for live entertainment
• Lots of food and drinks available for purchase (including some wonderful roasted corn and giant turkey legs)
• 7 Themed weekends with a variety of different events geared towards those themes each weekend

For more information visit the Renaissance Festival website here.

If You Dislike Glowing In The Dark, Take Your Household Hazardous Materials To Dakota County's Collection Days

Do you ever wonder what you are supposed to do with those old batteries you have sitting around? You can't throw them out with the regular garbage because they are toxic and could leak in to the ground water from a landfill, and they can't go in the recycling. Luckily, all residents of Dakota County will have a chance to dispose of their hazardous wastes by dropping the off as a part of a special collection effort two Saturdays this Month.

Dakota County will collect aerosols, oil, batteries, pesticides, paint thinner and also electronics. The collection days are available to all Dakota County residents. There are two locations that will be open for drop-offs on separate days.

9 am - 1 pm on Saturday, September 7th at the Farmington Maintenance Facility 19650 Municipal Drive, Farmington, MN 55024

9 am - 2 pm on Saturday, September 28th at the Burnsville Maintenance Facility 13713 Frontier Court, Burnsville, MN 55337

Visit the county’s website for a complete list of items that can be disposed of: http://www.co.dakota.mn.us/Environment/HazardousWaste/Residents/Pages/collection-events.aspx

If you can't make it to one of these special collection events, you can always drop off household hazardous waste at The Recycling Zone, which is open year round. They accept everything from ordinary recycling to hazardous waste, and even electronics. For more information visit http://www.dakotavalleyrecycling.org/the-recycling-zone

The Recycling Zone is located at:
3365 Dodd Road (South Highway 149)
Eagan, MN 55121

Have A Happy September!

We hope you all had a wonderful Labor Day, and we're wishing the best to those of you returning to school this month. September has some important dates to remember; read all about them below.

September 2nd 

Labor Day
A national holiday that celebrates all of the hardworking Americans and their contributions both social and economic.

September 5th
Rosh Hashanah
Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year. Unlike the parties surrounding January 1 for the new year, Rosh Hashanah is more about prayer and reflection, but there are still many celebrations. The traditional foods eaten during this time is challah bread, apples with honey and tzimmes which is typically a combination of carrots, yams, cinnamon, prunes and honey.

September 8th
Grandparents Day
Declared a National holiday by President Jimmy Carter in 1978. Marian McQuade advanced the idea for Grandparents day. Her vision was to help the elderly in nursing homes that often get forgotten about. She thought that this would be a day to recognize the wisdom and heritage that grandparents can provide.

September 11th
Patriot Day
A day to remember the horrible events of 9/11/01. Flags will be flown at half staff to honor the victims and the heroes that risked their lives to save others. The first plane struck the World Trade Center’s North Tower in New York at 8:46 am (Eastern Daylight Time). All Americans are asked to observe a moment of silence at this time.

September 22nd 
First Day of Autumn
It’s so sad to see summer fade away, but let’s at least enjoy Autumn as much as possible before the harsh realities of winter set in. Go pick some apples at an orchard, bake some apple pie (don’t forget to bring some to the office), and drink some warm apple cider or hot chocolate.

Way To Go Andrew! Meet Our Early Bird Winner

Congratulations to Andrew, he is the winner of our Early Bird Drawing this month! 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 pays their rent on or before the 1st of the month can put their name put into the Early Bird Drawing. Out of all the entries a random name is selected and the lucky winner gets $50 off of rent for the following month.

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

Your neighbor, Andrew, holding his Early Bird Winner certificate.