APPLE VALLEY

Mayor to marryApple Valley's most eligible mayor has wedding plans.

After losing her husband 19 years ago and raising four children, Mary Hamann-Roland said she will be marrying a widower she met at a Minnesota Zoo concert four years ago.

The timing wasn't right then, but John Glynn texted her last August while on a Caribbean cruise with his kids. They started dating and the mayor's mom, who is a healthy 93, approved of the match.

After talking with Glynn, 61, for half an hour, Mary's mom, Fredericka Hamann, said: "I hope within a few months we will be related," recalled the 58-year-old mayor. She said his five kids and her four approve.

Glynn, a commercial boiler inspector, lives in Elko New Market in Scott County. Hamann-Roland is trying to lure Glynn to Apple Valley.

"I'm not moving to New Market," she said. They plan to remodel her house or find a new home together, she said. No wedding date is set yet.

INVER GROVE HEIGHTS

Two-year college, four-year degreesInver Hills Community College is expanding its capability to offer bachelor's degrees.

Under a deal with St. Mary's University of Minnesota, students earning a two-year degree in certain fields can stay on campus and continue toward a B.S. degree in business or health care management from St. Mary's.

The agreement is the latest in a prolonged partnership between the two institutions. But students must apply to St. Mary's and be accepted into the bachelor's programs.

The Inver Hills campus since 2011 has partnered with the College of St. Scholastica in a B.S. degree in social work. In 2012 it started offering B.A. degrees through Concordia University in St. Paul in accounting and other fields.

The college hopes to keep expanding these offerings to areas such as early childhood education, teacher education, construction management and others, officials said.

To learn more, go to www.in verhills.edu/advanceddegrees or call 651-450-3508.

INVER GROVE HEIGHTS

Open house on plans for wayside restThose who'd like to have input on the design of a new wayside rest near the Rock Island Swing Bridge can show up from 5-6:30 p.m. Tuesday to view the plans, hear a presentation and ask questions.

Dakota County has been awarded a Scenic Byway grant to build the rest stop along the Mississippi River Regional Trail. The project includes a four-season restroom, outdoor picnic pavilion, parking lot and informational displays. Construction is set to begin this summer.

The meeting is at the Veterans Memorial Community Center, National Guard Meeting Room C, 8055 Barbara Av., Inver Grove Heights.

For more information, contact Chris Hartzell at chris.hartzell@co.dakota.mn.us or 952-891-7106.

PRIOR LAKE

Get to know that iPad or miniPrior Lake is offering a session next month for people wanting to get started with, or just know more about, an iPad or iPad mini.

Club Prior is aimed at active seniors, but anyone is welcome.

The session is from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Feb. 6 at Club Prior, located next to the public library downtown.

Topics include hardware and accessories, how to download and organize apps, how to sync music and photos from your computer, and tips for getting the most out of your Web browser. Bring your iPad or iPad mini to class.

Fee is $29, or for those 55 and up, $19. Registration is required; call 952-226-0080 or visit www.priorlakesavage.com.

SHAKOPEE

Series of talks on hospital, healthA lecture series this winter in Shakopee will cover the history of the city's big hospital and several topics concerning your health.

It's a collaboration between the Scott County Historical Society and St. Francis Regional Medical Center coinciding with the society's exhibit, "What's Up Doc? Medicine in Scott County."

A talk Thursday by doctors Anthony Spagnolo and Rolland Pistulka will deal with the history of medicine in the county and the history of what was long St. Francis Hospital.

In February and March, topics will include living with chronic conditions on Feb. 21; CPR on Feb. 28; menopause symptoms on March 7; and "advanced care planning," meaning decisions made by people who at some time in the future are no longer able to speak for themselves, on March 14.

Each session takes place at the Historical Society's Stans Museum from 7 to 8 p.m. It is free to all, with refreshments provided.

To learn more, call 952-445-0378 or e-mail info@scottcountyhistory.org.

BURNSVILLE, EAGAN

A chance to speak with legislatorsA trio of DFL state lawmakers will hold a town hall meeting at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Burnsville City Hall to talk about the legislative session and the state budget with constituents.

Rep. Sandra Masin, DFL-Eagan, Rep. Will Morgan, DFL-Burnsville, and Sen. Jim Carlson, DFL-Eagan, will be present to field questions.

The House of Representatives' chief fiscal analyst, Bill Marx, will give a short presentation on the state budget before the discussion.

Burnsville City Hall is at 100 Civic Center Pkwy.

DAVID PETERSON, JIM ADAMS AND DYLAN BELDEN