Ramp closures at I-35W/Hwy.13 start tonight

Ramps to and from Hwy. 13 from Interstate 35W will close starting tonight through Tuesday as crews continue work on a new MnPass lane.

The ramps from southbound 35W to westbound Hwy. 13 and from eastbound Hwy. 13 to southbound 35W will close at 7 tonight and should reopen by 7 a.m. Monday.

The loop from southbound 35W to eastbound Hwy. 13 and the ramp from westbound Hwy. 13 to southbound 35W will close at 7 p.m. Monday and reopen by 7 a.m. Tuesday, then close again at 7 p.m. Tuesday and reopen by 7 a.m. Wednesday.

For more information on the MnPass work, see www.mnpass.org. For updated travel information, see www.511mn.org or call 511.

Senior Expo at community centerA senior expo for those 55 and older and their families is set for 1 to 4 p.m. Oct. 11 at the Eagan Community Center, 1501 Central Pkwy.

The free event will feature information on healthy living trends from businesses and service organizations. There also will be door prizes and free refreshments.

Lake Byllesby annual drawdown underwayWater levels are dropping in Lake Byllesby during the annual drawdown of the reservoir.

The water will remain at the winter level, just below the sill of the Byllesby Dam, until May 1, when it will be allowed to rise 3 feet to the summer elevation.

Great Decisions forum to weigh Haiti's futureRebuilding Haiti will be the topic for discussion at a Great Decisions forum at Galaxie Library later this month.

Participants are encouraged but not required to read a copy of the Great Decisions briefing book before the Oct. 31 forum. The nonpartisan discussion will begin with a presentation by an expert on the subject.

With Haitian presidential elections approaching, the debate will focus on what new leadership can do to restore the country, already impoverished and underdeveloped before portions were devastated by a January 2010 earthquake.

The free program is scheduled for 4 to 5:30 p.m. Oct. 31 at the Galaxie Library, 14955 Galaxie Av. in Apple Valley. For more information, visit www.dakotacounty.us/library or call 651-450-2918.

Visitors are welcome to bring their pets -- or even a favorite stuffed animal -- to be blessed by the Rev. Tim Wozniak.

The ceremony celebrates the Oct. 4 feast day of St. Francis, who is considered the patron saint of animals. Wozniak will be joined by Bogey, his 2-year-old golden retriever. Last year's animal guests included dogs, cats, rabbits, turtles, lizards, hamsters and birds.

The church is at 4455 S. Robert Trail. For more information, see www.st.thomasbecket.org.

Spots for sale on city's anniversary calendarTo celebrate the 125th birthday of South St. Paul next year, a commemorative calendar will go on sale in December. The calendar will include historic photos and notations of events highlighting the city's history.

As a fundraiser, the commemorative calendar committee is selling individual squares on the calendar for $25 to anyone who may want to mark a birthday or special event or to send well wishes to the city.

For more information, contact Deb Griffith via e-mail at deb.griffith@southstpaul.org or call 651-554-3230.

New City Hall is set to open in NovemberInver Grove Heights will open the front door to its remodeled City Hall on Nov. 7.

The $15.7 million City Hall and public safety renovation began in June 2009. The first wave of employees will move into the remodeled area on Oct. 21. The remaining staff will relocate on Nov. 4.

The work, which has doubled the size of the building, included installing geothermal cooling and heating. The original City Hall was built in 1982.

Mayor George Tourville asked city staff members to plan a public open house for the building this fall rather than waiting until spring when the landscaping will be finished. The date of the open house has not been set.