Town briefs

COLUMBUS

The opening on Monday of the Running Aces Park-and-Ride gave bus commuters in the north and east metro areas 300 more parking spaces.

The park-and-ride, located at the Running Aces Harness Park at Lake Drive and Zurich Street in Columbus, will largely serve commuters headed south on Interstate 35. It's also expected to relieve some congestion at the 95th Avenue Park-and-Ride in Blaine, Metro Transit said.

Also this week, Route 288, which serves both park-and-rides, added another express trip in the morning, and the afternoon shuttle from the 95th Avenue Park-and-Ride was replaced by an express trip leaving downtown Minneapolis after 5:30 p.m. Commuters should call Metro Transit's Transit Information Center for schedule information at 612-373-3333.

DAKOTA COUNTY

County officials are trumpeting a new milestone: 1,000 people have signed up for the county's Simple Steps walking program in its first month.

The program encourages participants to increase the number of days that they exercise 30 minutes or more. So far participants have reported a combined total of 4,744 days when they were able to exercise for 30 minutes or more, the county said.

About 1,500 people are expected to have joined the program by June 16.

The county and 11 cities within it have offered the program, which encourages people to walk and gives prizes, including water bottles, an iPod, a digital camera, pedometers and gift certificates for walking gear, books and healthy food.

Participants who live or work in Dakota County log their activity on the Simple Steps website and can receive a personal progress report. An online Simple Steps Starter Kit includes a membership card, walking guide, maps of county walking trails and tools to report how easy it is to walk in participants' neighborhoods or park. Participants can receive e-mail tips and information about metro-area walking events.

The 1,000th person to register this year, Rozanna Byers of Hastings, also participated in Simple Steps last year, the county said.

"Regular exercise is important to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and preventing chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease," said Bonnie Brueshoff, director of the county's Public Health Department. About half of adults participate in enough physical activity to maintain their health.

Participants can form a group of two to 12 people or join an existing group to walk with at least once per week. To sign up online, go to www.dakotacounty.us or call 651-554-6100.

STAFF REPORT

OAKDALE

Attention, farmers' market shoppers: The Oakdale Farmers' Market is starting its summer season, running from June 11 to Oct. 1.

The weekly market, featuring local vendors, will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays at Richard Walton Park, near N. 15th Street and Hadley Avenue N.

A series of summer concerts will be held after the farmers' market, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., every Wednesday at the park's bandshell.

For more information, go to www.ci.oakdale.mn.us or call 651-747-3868.

ALLIE SHAH

WASHINGTON COUNTY

High school students in Washington County are participating in the Seat Belt Challenge, sponsored by the Safe Communities Coalition of Washington County. As part of the challenge, students are involved in awareness activities, such as painting "Buckle Up" signs on school driveways.

The challenge runs through Friday at Forest Lake, Hill-Murray, Mahtomedi, North, Park, Woodbury, Stillwater, and Tartan high schools. Students are competing for an award recognizing the highest rate and most improved rate of seat belt use by students.

A 2007 survey showed only 69 percent of 12th graders and 63 percent of 9th graders in Washington County wear seat belts, the county said.

KEVIN GILES

WOODBURY

One of Minnesota's largest spring garage sales -- and a 31-year tradition in this Washington County city -- will take place Friday and Saturday.

The sale typically involves about 800 locations from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. The event is sponsored by the Woodbury Lions Club as a fundraiser for people with vision and hearing impairments.

The police department will have extra officers on patrol to help with traffic, said Lee Vague, Woodbury's public safety director. "We have had a small amount of thefts where bad guys look for unattended cash boxes so we do make contact with sellers and remind them to protect their earnings," he said.

Directories listing locations and merchandise are for sale for $3.50 at many Woodbury supermarkets and service stations beginning the evening before the sale. The Lions raised about $20,000 from selling the directories and from entry fees, said President Alex Hunt.

In the past, the Lions have purchased hearing-testing equipment for schools in Washington County and bought the first two ambulances to serve Woodbury, Hunt said.

For further information on the garage sales see woodburylions.org.

KEVIN GILES