Briefs: 'Vinterfest' at mercy of weather

Weather permitting, the Scandia Park and Recreation Committee is sponsoring "Vinterfest," a community sliding and skating party on Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Scandia Community Center, 14727 209th St. N.

Free activities include skating, sledding and a bonfire. Both hockey and pleasure rinks will be available, the warming house will be open and a bake sale is planned.

Vinterfest also includes a chili cook-off involving up to 10 entrants who will compete for a trophy and ribbons. Judging will be from 2 to 3 p.m. and include "people's choice" as well as points awarded for best-decorated table. Preregistration is due by Jan. 30; see the city website for details and entry forms.

For the fourth year, Vinterfest will include a snow sculpture contest. Teams of up to six people of any age can compete for cash prizes for the best snow creations. Team sign up will be in the Community Center on the day of the Vinterfest.

For more information about Vinterfest, contact: Sally Swanson, City Council member, at 651-433-3010 or s.swanson@ci.scandia.mn.us; or, Parks and Recreation Coordinator Laurie Monson at 651-271-8999 or l.monson@ci.scandia.mn.us.

Youth suicide forum coming in FebruaryThe Suicide Prevention Collaborative of the East Metro Area will host a community event, "Not My Kid -- A Community Conversation on Youth Suicide Prevention," on Feb. 28 at Oak-Land Junior High School in Lake Elmo. The event is free and open to everyone.

Registration is not required. A resource fair will highlight community resources from 6 to 7 p.m., followed by the presentation from 7 to 9 p.m. The speaker will be Maureen Underwood, clinical director of Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide. Co-sponsors include SPC, PrairieCare, Washington County Teen Health Fund and the Chemical Health Action Collaborative in Washington County.

Veterans Rest Camp board adds membersJesse Kurtz of Stillwater and Steve Campos of Cottage Grove have been voted onto the board that oversees the Veterans Rest Camp on the south shore of Big Marine Lake near Marine on St. Croix.

The purpose of the camp is to provide relief and welfare services and recreational facilities to men and women who have served, or currently serve, in the military. Their immediate families also can participate.

The board manages the camp and sets rules and regulations. County commissioners approved the selection recently.

Promotions reshape police departmentA reorganization of the Forest Lake Police Department has led to several promotions and a reassignment, Chief Rick Peterson said:

•Capt. Greg Weiss was promoted from sergeant.

•Sgt. Kurt Kowarsch was promoted from police officer.

•Detective Scott Graff was appointed from police officer.

•Crime Prevention Investigator (Detective) Ashley Lavalle was appointed from police officer to the newly formed Crime Prevention Unit.

Peterson said the reorganization will enable police and Forest Lake residents "to work in a collaborative manner to combat crime, provide the community more law enforcement and community services, and provide the police department the resources necessary to become more efficient in its operations."

Scholarships open to health studentsLakeview Foundation Health and Wellness Education Scholarships for the 2012-2013 academic year are now open to residents in the Stillwater, Bayport, Lake Elmo, Lakeland, Marine on St. Croix and the western Wisconsin cities of Somerset and Houlton.

Scholarships range in value from $500 to $2,000. For information, contact 651-430-8731 or foundation@lakeview.org, or visit www.lakeviewhealth.org.

Board hires firm for Newport stationThe Washington County Board on Tuesday approved a contract with Stantec Consulting Services Inc. to design the Newport Transit Station.

The contract, not to exceed $249,915, is for design of a building to serve as a transit center and a parking area on the former Knox Lumber site.

The station will be built as part of the Red Rock Corridor, a 30-mile transportation corridor stretching from Hastings to Minneapolis.

'Common myths' on River Valley agendaRiver Valley Action will hold a "Debunking Common Myths" event at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Woodbury Peaceful Grove United Methodist Church at 7465 Steepleview Road. Speakers will address "myths" that taxes and regulations destroy jobs, and that voter identification prevents voter fraud.