Briefs: Burnsville event aims to prevent teen drug and alcohol abuse

Residents are invited to a drug and alcohol prevention program sponsored by the Burnsville Police Department, Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District 191 and Minnesota Adult & Teen Challenge. The free event will feature teens sharing their personal stories of addiction and recovery — and how they kept the substance abuse hidden from their parents.

Prevention specialists will also speak on current trends, root causes of chemical dependency and effective means of intervention. The event will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 19 in the cafeteria at Nicollet Junior High, 400 E. 134th St., Burnsville.

The gymnasium and arena at the Rosemount Community Center will be the site of a free family event from 6 to 8 p.m. on Feb. 27. Activities and features will include music, an inflatable obstacle course, slides, carnival games and more. Open ice skating will also be offered from 6:30 to 7:30, although rentals won't be available. Registration is not required. The Community Center is located at 13885 S. Robert Trail, Rosemount.

The next-to-last installment of the Eagan winter farmers market is scheduled for Feb. 14 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Eagan Community Center, 1501 Central Pkwy. The last session will be Feb. 28, also from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Community Center.

For further information, call Eagan Parks & Recreation at 651-675-5500.

The Dakota County Public Health Department is seeking nominations for the annual Public Health Achievement Awards, which recognize contributions of county residents who give their time, energy and talents to improve public health.

Awards are given in three categories: Youth, Individual, and Community Group (coalition, partnership or organization). Winners are selected on the basis of their leadership, contributions to solutions to problems, collaboration, advocacy, role modeling and evidence of impact.

A nomination form and instructions can be obtained at http://tinyurl.com/o3epbds. Call 952-891-7327 or go to www.co.dakota.mn.us for further information.

The Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District is offering a number of "Planting for Clean Water" workshops, focusing on native gardens, rain gardens and native plant shoreline stabilization.

Attendees will see examples of such efforts and learn how they help the environment. There also will be information about grant programs and financial incentives for natural plant gardens.

The workshops are free but registration is required. Go to http://www.dakotaswcd.org/ and click on 2015 Blue Thumb Workshops. You can also e-mail swcd@co.dakota.mn.us or call 651-480-7777.

Workshops begin at 6:15 p.m. Here's the schedule over the next few weeks:

• Feb. 25, Burnsville City Hall, 100 Civic Center Pkwy.

• March 3, Lakeville City Hall, 20195 Holyoke Av.

A March 2 workshop in Eagan is currently listed as full. Additional workshops are scheduled in late March and April in West St. Paul, Farmington, Apple Valley, Hastings and Burnsville and in June in Farmington.

Dakota County libraries are waiving any overdue fees and fines for visitors ages 17 and younger in February. However, fines for lost or unreturned materials will not be waived.

This month has been dubbed "I Love to Read Month" and the library's staff hopes to draw in readers with the one-time waiver and get them to once again borrow books, movies and other materials.

A counselor will be at the following libraries from 6 to 8 p.m. on the following dates:

• Wescott Library, 1340 Wescott Rd., Eagan, on Feb. 10;

• Galaxie Library, 14955 Galaxie Av., Apple Valley, on Feb. 11.

If you're interested in meeting with a counselor, register in advance at www.dakotacounty.org/libraries.

Kids 'n Kinship, an organization that matches south metro kids with adult mentors, is hosting an information session from 6 to 6:45 p.m. Feb. 19 in Eagan.

The information session will take place at Wescott Library, 1340 Wescott Road, Eagan. To register for the event, call 651-686-0990. Visit www.kidsnkinship.org for more information.