Zoooooooo

[hellziggy]

lucky13charm and I will be attending the Wednesday preview of the new African animals. Yay! Zoo!

Also, a bit of good zoo news:

From bombalurina:

A message from Lee Ehmke...

To All Staff and Volunteers:

It was another excellent year at the legislature for the MN Zoo! In the final bonding bill that passed early Sunday morning, the Zoo received appropriations of $7.5 million for asset preservation and an additional $7.5 million for continuing work on Master Plan projects.

The combination of these dollars will allow us to move forward in our goal of becoming one of the top ten zoos in America. These funds allow us to complete the Russia's Grizzly Coast exhibit with the wild boar and education building; we have funding to renew the Minnesota Trail; we will be able to make significant improvements to the Central Plaza; the chiller work in the Tropics Building will be completed, along with numerous other projects to take care of the buildings and infrastructure we have. In addition, we will be able to continue our planning efforts for a new entrance and other Heart of the Zoo projects.

The past two legislative sessions have resulted in over $45 million in new capital investment and debt relief that the state has provided. Two years of significant investment by the zoo's owner, the state, positions us well as we plan for a major capital campaign to raise private funds.

The Governor played a significant role in the final bonding negotiations. In addition, Dakota County legislators were helpful in their behind the scenes support. When given the opportunity, please thank them for their advocacy.

Thank you for all the work you do. There is a lot of work for us ahead, but together we will make the Minnesota Zoological Garden a world class zoo.

Comments

[timprov.livejournal.com]

Oh, good news! I missed it in all the stadium nonsense.

[hellziggy.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I tune out when they start talking about stadiums. All I care about there is that I won't have to be taxed to pay for a stadium I'll never go to. Zoos are much more important and interesting than baseball could ever dream of being!

[cleo.livejournal.com]

what time/day is your party?

[hellziggy.livejournal.com]

Saturday, 6:30ish. You guys gonna be able to make it?

[cleo.livejournal.com]

yes, we will be there. question - is this a "family" BBQ or only adults? just want to know in case we need to plan seperate food for the children and leave them home, they are ok without us for a few hours :) but if you are having kids there, then they can come along.....

[hellziggy.livejournal.com]

Yup, family is welcome. Some people bring their kids, some don't.

[scubagrrl.livejournal.com]

Excellent! :) Now I need to visit it. I haven't been to the zoo in years.

[hellziggy.livejournal.com]

Yes! Because you'll have to come to Minnesota to do it!
The Africa exhibit is only for the summer. :(