Briefs: Foreclosure-prevention workshops offered for free

The Washington County Library and the Washington County Housing and Redevelopment Authority are offering free foreclosure counseling and information workshops every Thursday in July to provide advice from trained foreclosure-prevention counselors.

The workshops are open houses; no pre-registration is required. Each will include a 45-minute presentation summarizing the foreclosure process. Participants will have an opportunity to meet one-on-one with a foreclosure-prevention counselor.

Workshops are scheduled for 1-2 p.m. July 7 at Park Grove Library Meeting Room, 7900 Hemingway Av. S. in Cottage Grove; 1-2 p.m. July 14 in Conference Room L14, Hardwood Creek Library, 19955 Forest Road N. in Forest Lake; 1-2 p.m. July 21 at Oakdale Library, 1010 Heron Av. N.; 6-7 p.m. July 28 at R.H. Stafford Library, Conference Rooms A&B, 8595 Central Park Place in Woodbury.

"The value in speaking to a county foreclosure-prevention counselor is identifying options," said Barbara Dacy, HRA executive director. "More than 60 percent of households that have worked with one of the prevention counselors have avoided foreclosure."

Historical Society hires three student internsThe Washington County Historical Society has hired three college students through its summer internship program:

• Kristine Dizon attends the University of Minnesota, where she is studying European history and music. She will be working at Hay Lake Museum in Scandia and will be researching the history of music in Washington County.

• Sean Pallas just graduated from the University of Minnesota-Duluth with a bachelor's degree in history. He will work at the Warden's House Museum in Stillwater. He also will intern at the St. Louis County Historical Society in Duluth.

Hazardous waste public hearing set in StillwaterA public hearing to gather comment on changes in the county's hazardous waste ordinance will be held July 26, the county board has decided.

The hearing will be in the board room of the Government Center in Stillwater during the regular county board meeting at 9 a.m.

Proposed changes include adopting the state rules; establishing regulation of special hazardous waste, which includes electronics; prohibiting the dumping or abandonment of appliances; and clarifying requirements for hazardous waste transfer facilities.

County fees increase for home detentionResidents participating in home detention or work-release programs will pay more for the service, Washington County commissioners have decided.

The program operated by the Sheriff's Office provides alternative sentencing for the courts while allowing jail inmates to maintain employment. The board approved new fees for the work release program for in-county workers at $20 per day, up from $16. The fee for anyone working outside the county will be raised to $60 a day from $40.

Costs associated with operating these programs has continued to increase over the past nine years, the Sheriff's Office said.

Historian to portray Gettysburg soldierCivil War Color Sgt. Samuel Bloomer, in the person of local historian Ken Martens, will make a rare appearance at 2 p.m. Saturday at Stillwater's Fairview Cemetery.

Martens will portray the First Minnesota Infantry's Civil War hero in full dress uniform. Bloomer played a significant role in the war as did many others who are buried in the cemetery nearby.

Saturday is the 148th anniversary of the famous charge of the First Minnesota Infantry at the Battle of Gettysburg. Martens in his role as Bloomer will tell of the daring events of that day.

Included are stories of heroism, romance and tragedy and, being at a cemetery, a tale of haunting as well.

Kids ages 5 to 13 are welcome to attend half or full sessions. There is no cost to participate; bring a bag lunch if attending over lunch hour.

PITS is organized and supervised by Hastings Community Education staff and is sponsored by Denmark Township. For more information, contact Mary O'Brien, with Hastings Community Ed, at 651-480-7672.