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4 <br />Summer 2014 <br />Members of the community gath- <br />ered in downtown Lake Elmo on <br />Saturday, June 21, to kick-off the <br />first day of summer with live music, <br />and a family-friendly fun! <br />Residents can look forward to sev- <br />eral other events taking place this <br />summer; some new joined with <br />long-standing favorites. <br />Friday, July 4: Fourth of July Kids <br />Parade, Noon <br />Kids of all ages are invited to walk <br />in the annual Lake Elmo 4th of July <br />Kids Parade. The parade starts at <br />noon. Participants are asked to line <br />up by 11:50 a.m. northbound on <br />Lake Elmo Avenue south of 32nd <br />Street. The parade ends at the Lions <br />Park playground, where there will be <br />an ice cream social sponsored by the <br />Lake Elmo Rotary Club. <br />Friday, July 11: Street Dance Fea- <br />turing the Tumblin’ Dice, 7-11 pm <br />Head downtown on Friday, July 11 <br />for some live music by the Tumblin’ <br />Dice, the Twin Cities number one <br />Rolling Stones tribute band. The <br />street dance will run from 7 pm to <br />11 pm. <br />Thursday, Aug. 7 - Sunday, Aug. <br />10: 38th Annual Huff ‘n Puff Days <br />& Softball Tournament <br />More than just a four-day softball <br />tournament, Huff ‘n Puff Days is <br />truly a fun family weekend event for <br />the St. Croix Valley area. In addition <br />to the 96-team softball tournament <br />there will be many other activities to <br />enjoy. Huff ‘n Puff Days, sponsored <br />by the Lake Elmo Jaycees, is an an- <br />nual fund-raiser for community and <br />youth activities in the St. Croix Val- <br />ley Area. <br />Friday, Aug. 8: Battle of the Bands <br />Competition, 7-11 pm <br />The St. Croix Battle of the Bands is <br />the biggest band competition in the <br />east metro. The competition draws <br />talent from across the Twin Cities, <br />from a variety of genres and skill <br />level. This high energy event is one <br />you don’t want to miss. For more <br />information or to apply visit www. <br />lakeelmo.org/bands. <br />For more information on community <br />events call 651-747-3908 or email <br />amacleod@lakeelmo.org. <br />Summer Event Series Planned in Downtown Lake Elmo <br />The annual Battle of the Bands Competition is one of several events planned in downtown Lake Elmo this <br />summer. <br />Standard and Poor’s Financial Ser- <br />vices, a municipal credit rating agen- <br />cy, has raised Lake Elmo’s long-term <br />rating to AA+ from AA based on the <br />application of its local government <br />rating criteria. The upgrade reflects <br />the following: <br />• Lake Elmo’s local economy is <br />very strong with per capita buy- <br />ing income at 163% of the na- <br />tional average and a 4.6% un- <br />employment rate; <br />• The City of Lake Elmo has 88% <br />of an annual operating budget in <br />reserve; <br />• The City has ended its last two <br />years with a budget surplus ex- <br />ceeding the national average; <br />• The City has strong liquidity and <br />fiscal management is viewed as <br />strong with the establishment of <br />disciplined financial policies over <br />the last two years. S & P raised <br />the City’s Financial Management <br />Assessment from “standard” to <br />“good”; <br />• The City’s debt liability profile <br />is adequate and management <br />plans to retire 66% of the direct <br />debt within 10 years. <br />In related news, Moody’s Inves- <br />tors Service assigned an Aa2 rat- <br />ing to the City of Lake Elmo based <br />on a strong local economy, strong <br />financial operations, and healthy re- <br />serves. <br />City Receives Bond Rating Upgrade to AA+