Briefs: Dakota County expands recycling; Apple Valley OKs liquor license

Dakota County is expanding the list of items accepted for recycling at the Recycling Zone, at 3365 Dodd Road in Eagan.

Besides basic plastic bottles and jugs, the recycling center is now accepting yogurt, pudding and fruit cups; plastic tubs from margarine, cottage cheese and other foods; and produce, deli and take-out containers. Cartons such as those for juice, soup, wine and milk are also being accepted for free from residents and businesses.

For a complete list of items accepted for recycling, visit www.dakotacounty.us and search "Recycling Zone."

Four months after yanking the liquor license from Spoon Restaurant in Apple Valley, the Apple Valley City Council voted 3-2 this month to offer the restaurant a more limited wine and beer license.

With this provision comes the understanding that the establishment would hold only private events — like weddings, birthdays and anniversaries — and have two security personnel present at all events.

In January, the council revoked the liquor license for the restaurant at 14871 Granada Av. because its hip-hop live music events had drawn police calls and the restaurant had been cited for fire code violations. It was the first time a liquor license had been denied by the city.

Since then Spoon has added new electrical wiring and promised to add two security personnel — one employee and one from a security company — for all events. The restaurant was seeking a full liquor license.

Cognac is traditionally the only liquor served and preferred by the Vietnamese, Laotian and Cambodian patrons of the restaurant, an attorney for the establishment said. The wine and beer license will not allow that to be served.

Dakota County Library will host a "Know Your Money Resource Fair" from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 20 at Galaxie Library, 14955 Galaxie Av., Apple Valley. It will feature award-winning financial columnist Gail MarksJarvis as keynote speaker.

MarksJarvis is the author of "Saving for Retirement (without Living Like a Pauper or Winning the Lottery)." She regularly delivers financial advice on television and radio stations nationwide.

Her presentation at the library will help families navigate financial issues such as escaping debt, paying for college and investing in the future.

The fair also will include nearly 30 local agencies and workshops put on by the Dakota County Community Development Agency and the Minnesota attorney general's office.

Information will be available on how route options have been evaluated and how concerns were addressed from the previous open house. People may give their opinions on each alignment option. This is the final open house before a preferred alignment is adopted by Dakota County in May.

When completed in 2015, the Mississippi River Regional Trail will stretch 27 miles from St. Paul to Hastings. It will be part of a 3,000-mile trail that will connect the Mississippi River's headwaters at Lake Itasca to the Gulf of Mexico.

To learn more about the national Mississippi River Trail, visit www.mississippirivertrail.org.

The Eagan Foundation has awarded $7,500 in grants to nine nonprofits that work to help the less fortunate, promote the arts, engage kids and otherwise make Eagan a better place to live.

Recipients were: the Eagan Resource Center's "Hope Speaks" supplemental summer food program; 360 Communities, which will use the funds to help purchase bunk beds for the Lewis House domestic violence shelter; Caponi Art Park, for its Summer Performance and Family Fun Tuesdays series; Cheerful Givers, which provides birthday gift bags for kids in need; the Eagan Art Festival; the Eagan Beyond the Yellow Ribbon program, which connects military personnel and their families with community support; the Eagan Garden Club, which will use the grant to help replace perennials at Holz Farm; the Eagan High School Robotic Club; and the Lincoln House program, which helps young adults who have aged out of foster care.