Briefs: Celebrate spring at Holz Farm festival in Eagan

The Holz Farm Spring Festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the farm at 4665 Manor Drive.

Free activities include the Eagan Men's Chorus at 1 p.m., a pie-eating contest at 3 p.m., garden planting and blacksmith demonstrations, corn grinding and more.

Tickets at 50 cents each can be used for pony and hay rides, rope making and other activities. Concessions also will be available.

Skype, a program that allows people to use a computer and the Internet to make voice or video calls, will be the subject of a workshop Thursday at the Galaxie Library.

The class begins at 2:30 p.m. in the computer lab at the library, 14955 Galaxie Av., in Apple Valley. The session is intended for people who already have basic knowledge of the Internet.

To register, go to http://tinyurl.com/k23pf49.

The grass is growing and so are the weeds. The city of Apple Valley is reminding residents that weeds, grass and other vegetation taller than 8 inches and not specifically part of a garden or natural area are in violation of city rules.

For more information about noxious weeds, call Ben Pierson in code enforcement at 952-953-2571.

The Cedar Avenue bridge over the Minnesota River will be closed for several weeks in June.

Full closure of the southbound lanes will happen between June 5 and 15. Full closure of the northbound lanes will happen June 19 to 30. The closures will affect bus service during that time. Riders are encouraged to check the Minnesota Valley Transit Authority website, www.mvta.com, for details.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation is replacing bridge joints and the guardrail and painting the bridge and walkway.

A certified "Open to Business" consultant will offer free consulting services to residents and businesses from 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday at Burnsville City Hall, 100 Civic Center Pkwy.

For more information, go to www.opentobusinessmn.org.

The LeDuc Historic Estate will be the site of a rhubarb festival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 30 at 1629 Vermillion St. in Hastings.

From the organizers: "The LeDuc family was heavily into agriculture and this is a day when we especially celebrate this. The emphasis will be on rhubarb, but there will be other things to see and do on this special day."

Farmer Botan Anderson planted winter wheat and rye in part of the LeDuc garden last fall. Visitors can see the grains coming up through the soil. Garlic, planted by LeDuc gardeners, is also peeking through the mulch and will be harvested in July or August. Heritage seeds also have been planted and will be transferred to the LeDuc vegetable garden.

Fresh rhubarb will be sold in bunches at the festival. A bake sale will featured delicacies made from rhubarb. There will be art projects and story times for children.

Local travel expert Rayne Olson will offer tips on how to book airfare online, how to find the best deals, and what travel resources are available at the library from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday at the South St. Paul Library, 106 3rd Av. N.

Participants can bring laptop computers, but it is not required.

To register, go to http://tinyurl.com/k7ua5v7.

The Lakeville Police Department wants to remind residents that it participates in the Dakota County Pharmaceutical Drug Disposal program.

A drug drop-off box is located in the police station lobby at 9237 183rd St. Materials will be accepted for disposal from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Wentworth Library and the Red Balloon Bookshop will host a Princess Party at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday to celebrate author Meg Cabot's new book, "From the Notebooks of a Middle School Princess."

Princesses of all ages can make tiaras, answer princess trivia and participate in a Q&A with Cabot.

People who buy Cabot's book will receive a priority signing line ticket. Signing line tickets can be purchased for $16.99 plus tax from the Red Balloon Bookshop, either in advance or at the event. Each person can have up to four books signed.

Wentworth Library is at 199 E. Wentworth Av. in West St. Paul. For more information or to purchase a book over the phone, call 651-224-8320.