County offers recycling, composting class

Dakota County is offering new Master Recycler-Composter classes on waste prevention, recycling and composting, with the goal of creating a volunteer pool of knowledgeable residents who will inspire and teach others to reduce waste and recycle more at home and at work.

The six-week program has a three-hour class each week. Participants will be taught by experts, receive a handbook, engage in hands-on demonstrations and go on field trips to demonstration sites.

After completing the classes, participants will be asked to volunteer 30 hours teaching others how to reduce waste, reuse goods and recycle more.

Volunteer activities include staffing informational booths at events, making presentations and working on special projects in their neighborhoods, schools, and workplaces. Course graduates become certified Master Recycler-Composters when they complete their 30-hour commitment.

The classes will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays, from April 29 to June 3, in the conference room at Galaxie Library, 14955 Galaxie Av., Apple Valley. The $30 cost covers course materials and field trip transportation.

For more information or to apply, see www.dakotacounty.us and search "master recycler" or call Jennifer Kedward at 952-891-7043. The application deadline is April 22.

The city of Lakeville is organizing a citywide garage sale from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 17.

Addresses for the map must be within the city's borders.

Residents interested in participating in the sale and having their locations listed must register on the city's website. Only the the address will be included on the map.

For more information, call City Hall at 952-985-4406.

The Dakota County Library will join libraries across the country this month for the annual celebration of El Día de los Niños/El Día de los Libros, The Day of the Children/The Day of the Books.

The Wentworth Library, 199 E. Wentworth Av., West St. Paul, will host a free celebration from 10 a.m.to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, April 26. The event will feature family activities, live entertainment, guitarist Scott Davies, dance troupe Los Alegres Bailladores, Rosie the Clown, refreshments, crafts, a piñata and informational displays from community agencies.

Landowners interested in using controlled burns to manage grasslands can attend a daylong workshop on Saturday at Carleton College.

Prescribed burning is the planned and intentional burning of habitat to remove dead plant material and rejuvenate growth of desirable grasses and forbs. Properly implemented and timed, prescribed burning can be one of the most effective and economical ways to improve grassland habitat.

The workshop will include a classroom element in the morning, followed by a field exercise with an actual prescribed burn, weather permitting. Participants must wear appropriate clothing, including leather boots, leather gloves and 100 percent cotton or wool clothing. They must also sign a waiver of liability.

The session is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Carleton College Cowling Arboretum. There is a $20 fee per person.

Registration is required by Monday. Register at https://apps.carleton.edu/campus/arb/programs/workshops/fire_workshop.