Briefs: 17 and older? Write book reviews in Washington County

Washington County Library invites adults to participate in Winter Jackets, a free winter reading program, Jan. 1 through Feb. 28.

The program encourages library users age 17 and older to spend the winter months reading and submitting short book reviews to the library for participants to peruse.

Washington County Library is also presenting Winter Jackets events:

• Jan. 8: Brian Freeman, author of psychological suspense novels, including the Jonathan Stride series, talks about his work and signs books from 7-8 p.m. at Newport Library and Community Center, 405 Seventh Av.

• Jan. 14: An educator from the Minnesota Historical Society presents a program on Larry Millet's book "Minnesota's Own: Preserving Our Grand Homes" from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Oakdale Library, 1010 Heron Av. N. Register by calling the library at 651-730-0504.

• Jan. 20: Crime drama author Chuck Logan discusses his novels and his experience making a Hollywood feature film from 6:30-8 p.m. at Wildwood Library, 763 Stillwater Road, Mahtomedi.

• Jan. 31: Instructor Sue Swanson presents "An Introduction to Labyrinths: History, Art and Use" from 2-4 p.m. at R.H. Stafford Library, 8595 Central Park Place, Woodbury.

• Feb. 1-28: Hardwood Creek Library and Oakdale Library host community art shows. Anyone interested in being a part of the show can call the Hardwood Creek Library at 651-275-7300, the Oakdale Library at 651-730-0504, or see www.co.washington.mn.us/library.

Winter Jackets events are free and open to the public. For details, call 651-731-1320, visit a local library, or see www.co.washington.mn.us/library.

The Washington County Board has accepted a bid from TD&I Cable Maintenance, Inc., to install fiber optic cabling in the southern part of the county. The $138,035 project calls for installing cable from the intersection of Manning Avenue South and Hwy. 61 to St. Croix Bluffs Park Reserve in Denmark Township.

The new cabling will replace an outdated connection and improve network connectivity by increasing bandwidth and improving speed and reliability of service, the county said. Fiber cabling connects the county's service centers in Woodbury, Cottage Grove and Forest Lake. It also links to public works buildings and the Environmental Center in Woodbury.

Woodbury residents now can comment on the Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) for the proposed 80-acre Summerlin development south of Dale Road and east of the Southridge neighborhood.

The EAW, which assesses the potential impacts of the project, will be available to view electronically on the city's website and during business hours at Woodbury City Hall, RH Stafford Library, and Minneapolis Public Library. Comments will be received through Jan. 21.

For questions regarding the project, contact Sharon Doucette, city of Woodbury environmental resource coordinator, at 651-714-3538 or sdoucette@ci.woodbury.mn.us.

Friends of the Mississippi River is working with Washington County Parks to restore habitat at Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park.

Winter work will include removing invasive species within the oak forest and tree removal within oak savanna remnants. Park users can expect to see crews using brush saws and chain saws, burning brush piles, and using small equipment to perform the work.

For details, contact Washington County Parks' natural resource coordinator at 651-430-4300. See www.co.washington.mn.us/parks for information.

Kevin Giles