Briefs: Watershed district to install barriers to stop aggressive fish

The Comfort Lake Forest Lake Watershed District has received a $283,000 grant to pay for three rough fish barriers for Bone Lake in Scandia and Moody Lake in Chisago Lake Township, said Doug Thomas, district administrator. The district's project was the only one in Washington County project to receive funding through a competitive grant process administered by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

The barriers are intended to keep aggressive fish, such as carp, from harming the lakes. They will be designed and approved next year, with plans calling for installing them in the two lakes in winter 2012, Thomas said.

Funding for the Conservation Legacy Partners grant program comes from a pool of money awarded to the DNR from the Outdoor Heritage Fund, part of the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Constitutional Amendment. For fiscal year 2011, the DNR awarded 35 grants totaling $3.6 million.

Tree-lighting is Dec. 1 at City Hall Cottage Grove will celebrate the holiday season with a community tree-lighting at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 1 in front of City Hall, 7516 80th Street S.

Mayor Myron Bailey will preside over the lighting before a City Council meeting. The Park High School Choir will perform, and there will be a visit from Santa Claus.

Residents are asked to bring cash or nonperishable food items for the local food shelf. Free hot beverages and snacks will be served.

Compost site is about to close for season The Woodbury Compost Site will close for the season on Wednesday.

The location at 4600 Cottage Grove Drive south of Bailey Road is open from April through November, with fall operating hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Blood drive is slated at City Hall on Dec. 7 Woodbury is sponsoring a blood drive between 1 and 6 p.m. on Dec. 7 at City Hall, 8301 Valley Creek Road.

To register, visit the American Red Cross website at www.redcrossblood.org/make-donation and enter sponsor code 4269.

Old-style dance marks church's anniversary Christ Episcopal Church in Woodbury is celebrating its 160th anniversary with an 1850s-style dance from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 4.

The event will feature members of the Living History Society of Minnesota in period dress. They will demonstrate dances of the 1850s and invite people to join in. Carols and parlor games from the time also will be part of the festivities.

Water management efforts are lauded Woodbury has received the Minnesota Blue Star Award for its efforts to protect local water quality.

The award, part of a statewide program honoring communities for their work on water quality, recognizes the city's efforts to keep urban runoff pollution from degrading nearby lakes, streams and wetlands.

The award program is sponsored by a partnership of state agencies, watershed districts, the engineering firm Emmons & Olivier Resources, and the nonprofit group Friends of the Mississippi River. It is designed to measure cities on a wide range of activities, from regulations to education programs to good housekeeping measures.

Woodbury received the award following an assessment of stormwater management practices administered through the program. Woodbury is one of only eight cities in Minnesota that have received the Blue Star Award in the first months of the program.

Grant targets alcohol compliance checks The Washington County Sheriff's Office has been awarded a grant from the Minnesota Institute of Public Health to conduct alcohol compliance checks of establishments licensed to sell alcoholic beverages.

JIM ANDERSON, KEVIN GILES AND EMMA L. CAREW

Winter camping for military families The Disabled Veterans Rest Camp for military families has extended its camping season and is now taking reservations for this winter. The camp, in northern Washington County, has modern cabins and access to trails and Big Marine Lake.

Winter camping won't be available at trailer and tent sites because water is shut off, said Lori Ahlness, a rest camp board member. Half of the 12 cabins are disabled-accessible.