Briefs: Folk artist will sing for Marine on St. Croix library benefit

The Marine Library Association will sponsor a benefit for the Marine Community Library on Nov. 30, featuring the songs and stories of folk and jazz artist Claudia Schmidt.

Tickets for the 7 p.m. event at Marine Village Hall are available at the Marine General Store, the Marine Community Library and at the door, or by calling 651-433-5569.

"Claudia has performed around the world and is well known in this area from her work on 'A Prairie Home Companion' and shows at the Dakota Jazz Club," said Sue Logan, who chairs the Library Association. "We are so lucky to have someone of her caliber in the Valley."

Schmidt describes her show as "a harvest of the heart, overflowing with song and story."

The Library Association will donate 10 percent of the show's proceeds to the Valley Outreach food shelf. The remainder will fund new library materials at the Marine library and support ongoing adult and children's programs and educational offerings. The all-volunteer library serves residents of Scandia, May Township and Marine on St. Croix.

Mahtomedi's annual tree lighting ceremony will take place on Dec. 6, with proceeds going to help feed the hungry.

The Tree of Light benefit will take place from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. at Triangle Park, organizers said. People can purchase a light of remembrance for $10 for the tree "in honor or memory of a loved one." The last day to buy a light is Dec. 5.

For more information, contact Michelle Stiepan at 651-395-5352 or mstiepan@stjudeofthelake.org.

Two private equity firms have sold their controlling shares in Northern Tier Energy, the Connecticut-based company that owns the St. Paul Park refinery and SuperAmerica stores, officials announced. The sale to Western Refining was for $775 million, according to a news release.

Western told the Star Tribune that it doesn't intend to make any immediate changes in the management of Northern Tier's assets, which include the refinery along Hwy. 61 and the 163 SuperAmerica stores it operates in Minnesota and Wisconsin, as well as 74 franchises it services.

"Northern Tier Energy's St. Paul Park refinery is a very successful refinery with pipeline access to cost-advantaged crude oil and refined product regions that historically have generated strong product margins," said Western CEO Jeff Stevens. "The combined strength and scale of the two organizations will provide future growth opportunities for both companies over the long-term."

The city of Forest Lake has vacancies on the Park Board and Planning Commission. Deadline for applications is Nov. 30.

The Planning Commission makes recommendations on these improvements to the City Council for final approval. The commission meets the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month at 7 p.m.

Park Board members maintain trails, buildings and other necessary structures and improvements in parks. The board makes recommendations to the City Council.

The Park Board also sponsors Arts in the Park, the farmers market and other community events. Members meet on the third Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. during June, July and August, and the third Tuesday at 7 p.m. the remaining months.

For more information, go to www.ci.forest-lake.mn.us or call Chantal at 651-209-9727.

The Marcus Theater in Oakdale is a getting a minor makeover, one which promises a more comfortable moviegoing experience.

The Milwaukee-based theater chain owns or operates 685 screens at 55 locations in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota and Ohio, according to its website.

The redesign, which the company has dubbed "UltraScreen DLX," will also include the installation of a three-story-high movie screen in addition to "immersive sound."

"Our three UltraScreen DLX auditoriums are the first to integrate all-reserved stadium recliner seating, giant screens of at least 65 feet in width and amazing sound in one complete package, creating the ultimate entertainment destination," said Rolando Rodriguez, Marcus president and CEO, in a news release.

The Washington County Board conducted a public hearing last week at the request of Baytown Township to amend the county's 2030 Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Map.

Baytown Township officials requested updates for consistency with their new plan. The county's Planning Advisory Commission reviewed the request, conducted a public hearing, and recommended approval of the proposed amendments.

The New Richmond, Wis., Police Department will be added to the Washington County Sheriff's Office mutual aid partners after the Washington County Board approved the agreement last week.

Under the agreement, agencies will help each other in managing threats to the public health and safety of residents. Neither agency possesses all of the resources to cope with every possible law enforcement emergency or disaster, and an effective response can be better achieved if the agencies assist one another, the Sheriff's Office said.

The Washington County Board will hear comments on the county's proposed capital improvements on Dec. 17.

The board will conduct a 9 a.m. public hearing on the 2014-2018 plan, which outlines major capital projects for the next five years. The board will then consider any changes to the plan and take action to adopt the final 2014-2018 plan.