Briefs: Uninsured schoolchildren can get free immunizations Aug. 29-31

Appointments for children who need their immunizations updated before the start of the school year will be available through the Washington County Department of Public Health and Environment.

These clinics are for school-age children who do not have medical insurance, or whose medical insurance does not cover the cost of immunizations. There is a $12 administration fee requested for each immunization, but no one who is eligible for the clinics will be turned away if they are unable to pay, the county said.

The schedule is:

• Monday, Aug. 29, Cottage Grove Service Center at the WIC Clinic, 13000 Ravine Parkway, Cottage Grove; by appointment only, 1-3 p.m. Call 651-430-4036 to schedule an appointment.

• Tuesday, Aug. 30, Washington County Government Center at the 4th floor WIC Clinic, 14949 62nd St. N., Stillwater; by appointment only, 1-3 p.m. Call 651-430-6655 to schedule an appointment.

• Wednesday, Aug. 31, Forest Lake Service Center at the WIC Clinic, 19955 Forest Road N., Forest Lake; by appointment only, 1-3 p.m. 651-275-7270.

For further questions call 651-430-6655 to speak with a public health nurse. More information is available on the Washington County website at www.co.washington.mn.us, or call the Washington County Department of Public Health and Environment at 651-430-6655.

Needs include table linens, dishes, furniture, photos, traditional clothing, a cuckoo clock, an Advent calendar and traditional tree and holiday decorations. Staff members also are looking for a "fake" roast goose or suckling pig to use as a centerpiece of the holiday meal.

The free exhibit will run from mid-October to mid-January in the vault exhibit area at the courthouse in Stillwater. It also will be featured at the annual Victorian Christmas at Historic Courthouse on the weekend of Nov. 18.

Anyone with items or information to share, or who wants to help with the exhibit, can call 651-275-7075.

Picnic and social set for SundayBaytown Neighbors, a nonprofit established to enhance the community of Baytown, will hold its annual Neighbors Picnic and Ice Cream Social today.

A social begins at 5 p.m., and the pot luck will begin at 5:30, followed by children's activities, a Baytown Cookbook sale and an annual meeting. Gift card and children's gift basket raffles also are part of the festivities.

Noon Rotary Club gets new presidentKatie Rolf has been named the new president of the Stillwater Noon Rotary Club.

Rolf is a certified public accountant for Foley Kalseim & Co. in Stillwater and has been a Rotary member for eight years. She succeeds Scott Mercer, who was president for the 2010-11 year.

Host families needed for traveling castUp With People, the nonprofit singing and dancing group that produces shows designed to motivate and inspire people to make a difference in their community, is bringing its 2011 tour to Woodbury in September, and it's looking for families in Woodbury and surrounding communities to host cast members.

More than 70 participants ages 17 to 29 will appear in the group's extravaganza Sept. 15 at East Ridge High School. They will arrive in Woodbury on Sept. 12 and need a place to stay for a week.

Host families will be expected to provide a place to sleep, two meals a day and transportation to and from meeting sites. In return, host families will receive tickets to the Sept. 15 show. For more information, call 1-303-638-0808.

Through Aug. 31, photos of people, events, architecture, buildings, plants, animals and flowers can be entered by uploading them to the magazine's website at www.woodbury mag.com.

Winners in each of five categories will be announced in October. They will earn gift certificates to Woodbury restaurants and businesses.

Entrants must live, work or attend school in Woodbury. They can enter a maximum of three photos. Call 612-548-3252 for more information.

Only 1 pitcher needed to change a light bulbMinnesota Twins closer Joe Nathan put his pitching arm to work installing energy-efficient compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) at a Woodbury home earlier this month.

Lucinda Lippert and her daughter, Amy, of Woodbury won an Xcel Energy contest to get a free lighting efficiency makeover and home energy audit, along with a personal visit from Nathan.

Xcel Energy sponsored the contest to encourage customers to save energy by switching to energy-efficient CFLs.

"This is a fun way for a longtime Twins fan to learn about the benefits of CFLs and to get other energy saving advice through the home energy audit," said Kim Sherman, product portfolio manager for Xcel Energy. "The audit provides a top-down list of energy-saving ideas like adding insulation to water heaters, installing faucet aerators or swapping out inefficient lighting with new CFLs."

According to Energy Star, one CFL saves enough energy to pay for itself in just three months, and energy continues to be saved during the life of the bulb, an estimated seven to 10 years, providing up to $50 in energy savings.

Xcel customers can purchase a variety of discounted bulbs for as little as $1 each at various Twin Cities locations. Bulbs may be available only in multi-packs. Learn more at www.responsiblebynature.com.

Public Works plans open houseCottage Grove residents are invited to enjoy displays and demonstrations of Public Works' big rigs, snowplows, dump trucks, tractors and mowers during an open house from 3 to 7 p.m. Sept. 15.

There also will be area vendors offering free snacks. Hotdogs, pop and chips will be sold for 50 cents each.

The Public Works Department is located at 8635 W. Point Douglas Road. For more information, call 651-458-2808.