Briefs: Got old shoes? You can recycle them

Do you have old shoes too beat-up to be given away as hand-me-downs? There's a way to dispose of them that won't clog up landfills.

Residents of Apple Valley, Burnsville and Eagan will be able to recycle old shoes at collection points in their communities Nov. 11-17. The one-week program is being coordinated by Dakota County Recycling in recognition of America Recycles Day Nov. 15.

Shoes of all types, sizes and styles, in any condition, will be accepted. They will be collected and sorted by USAgain, a Chicago company that collects and resells unwanted textiles and shoes for reuse or recycling into new products.

Residents can drop off their old shoes at any time outside Apple Valley Community Center; from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. inside Burnsville Ice Center; and from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. inside Eagan Civic Arena.

For more information, contact Dakota Valley Recycling at 952-895-4511.

The South St. Paul Lions Club and Protouch Paint, Inc., will sponsor the annual South St. Paul Senior Citizen Thanksgiving Dinner again this year.

The turkey dinner will be from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Nov. 14 at South St. Paul High School, 700 S. Second St.

The lions club also will have fruitcakes.

For more information, contact Steve Doody at 651-552-9829.

A public open house to show the final design of the North Urban Regional Trail through Mendota Heights, West St. Paul and South St. Paul will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Nov. 14 at the Mendota Heights City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve in Mendota Heights.

The purpose of the open house is to review the trail design details and discuss the construction schedule before work begins next summer.

Those unable to attend the open house may direct comments to Dakota County's project manager, Chris Hartzell, at 952-891-7106 or chris.hartzell@co.dakota.mn.us.

The Burnsville City Council has given six awards for community building. The awards went to:

• Bill Ganz, a volunteer for 360 Communities who works at the Burnsville Food Shelf and the Eagan Lewis House.

• The Burnsville Lions Club, which donated $50,000 for new equipment at the Lions Playground in Cliff Fen Park; $50,000 to Fairview Ridges Hospital to refurbish two pediatric rooms with an "animal" theme; and $20,000 in matching grant funds to support improvements at The Garage youth center.

• Daniel Mahowlad and Warren D. Mosier, owners of Cornerstone Copy Center of Burnsville, who have a long history of donating services to multiple Burnsville civic groups and endeavors.

• Fay Finn, the youth service specialist for Independent School District 191 Community Education. She has worked with thousands of Burnsville High School students to get them excited about volunteering in schools, businesses, nonprofit organizations, churches and community events. In the past school year, Burnsville High School students recorded more than 9,000 volunteer hours. Finn was also instrumental in creating BrainPower in a BackPack, which provides for weekend meals for students in need.

• Ramsey Boyd, manager of Colonial Villa, who has encouraged the property owners to make a number of renovations and repairs. He also has worked with Burnsville's Police and Fire departments to quickly address concerns and bring the complexes' aging buildings into compliance with fire and building codes.