Arts briefs: Community Expo coming up in Woodbury

Woodbury's Community Expo, featuring more than 175 local businesses and nonprofits, is coming up on Saturday, April 25. The event will take place at East Ridge High School from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Local enterprises will "offer some of their best deals of the season and local restaurants will be sampling and selling their delectable specialties," organizers say.

There also will be live music, martial arts, dance exhibitions, a science show by the 3M Traveling Wizards, a balloon show, a magician and jugglers. For kids, activities include science experiments and a bounce house. A variety of vehicles also will be there: police cars, fire trucks, dump trucks, excavators and an ambulance.

For more information, visit the Woodbury Area Chamber of Commerce website at woodburychamber.org, go to Facebook.com/woodburychamber, or contact event manager Amanda Roseth at amanda@woodburychamber.org.

Broadcaster Joe Schmit will share stories and discuss his book, "Silent Impact: Stories of Influence through Purpose, Persistence, and Passion," this coming weekend.

His appearance is set for 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, April 25, at Washington County's R.H. Stafford Library in Woodbury.

The book tells stories of real people and their influence on others, from celebrities like Minnesota Twin Joe Mauer and Hall of Fame quarterback Bart Starr to regular folks.

Stillwater resident Spike Carlsen will build and later give away a bench as he discusses his two most recent books this week at the Lake Elmo public library.

His book "Cabin Lessons" is to be released on Tuesday. He also outlined building projects in a previous book, "The Backyard Homestead Book of Building Projects."

Carlsen's appearance will be Thursday, April 23, at 6:30 p.m. He will build a simple Leopold Bench to be given afterward to someone chosen from the audience.

"Cabin Lessons" traces a couple's steps and missteps as they build a dream cabin, from finding the land to the final coats of paint. The "Backyard Homestead Book" features 76 do-it-yourself projects using basic tools and materials.

Carlsen worked as a carpenter and contractor for 15 years, then as an editor with the magazine Family Handyman for another 15.

Spring recreation programming in Woodbury begins this week and features the drawing of monsters, Japanese art forms and much more. To register, call 651-714-3583 or visit www.woodburyrecreation.com.

Programs include:

Dance with Me! The Carnival of Animals: Dancing and singing with instruments, scarves and parachutes. Mondays, April 20-June 1 from 9:30 to 10 a.m. Cost is $46 for residents, $51 for nonresidents, and the program is for ages 18 months through 4 years. Registration number: 550759-03

Young Rembrandts: Anime and Manga. Learn the fundamentals of a Japanese art form. Tuesdays, April 21-May 12, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Fee is $42/$47 and it's for ages 6-12. Registration: 550753-10

Young Rembrandts: Horses, Horses and More Horses. Learn to draw you-know-what. Saturday, May 9, 10 a.m. to noon, for ages 6 to 12. Fee is $21/$26. Registration: 550753-07

Madison's Place is billed as the east metro's first all-inclusive playground. It is to be located adjacent to Bielenberg Sports Center. Play equipment has been ordered for the 16,000-square-foot playground, city officials say.

The Madison Claire Foundation has been raising money from corporate and individual donors. The foundation is seeking donations of $10 per child among families who would use the facility.

The structure is to have rubber flooring and ramps to allow children and adults access to each sun-shade-covered play deck, swings, sensory play equipment and more.

For more information, visit www.madisonclairefoundation.org or contact Dana Millington at dana@madison clairefoundation.org.

DAVID PETERSON