Read about vampires, donate some blood

January 8, 2012 at 4:02AM

Fans of vampire tales are invited to "Read & Bleed" blood drives for the American Red Cross at Dakota County libraries this month.

The American Red Cross will be at Burnhaven Library from 11 a.m. to noon Saturday. There will be free autographed copies of Andrea Cremer's "Bloodrose" for the first 20 blood donors who request a copy.

On Jan. 28, Tate Hallaway, author of the Vampire Princess series, will greet blood donors at the Wescott Library from 11 a.m. to noon. All blood donors can enter a drawing to win an autographed copy of Hallaway's latest book.

Blood donors must be age 17 or older.

SOUTH METRO

MVTA buses score 100 percent passingAll 118 buses used by Minnesota Valley Transit Authority passed inspections by the Minnesota Department of Transportation with no deficiencies for the third year in a row.

The south metro transit agency trumpeted its record in a news release, with Dan Schmitt, president of Schmitty and Sons, the operator of the buses, saying, "This is an extraordinary achievement in our industry. We are very proud of our mechanics and staff."

The inspections, which are pass/fail, include a visual walk-through of the bus checking for defects.

EAGAN

Rec facilities offer discounts for militaryMilitary families from Eagan will get a discount at city recreation facilities this year.

With proper military identification, families will be admitted to the Eagan Community Center for free on the first Saturday of each month and offered free admission to preschool open gym on the second Tuesday of every month.

Come summer, Eagan military families can show identification to get into Cascade Bay water park for $3 after 4 p.m. on June 12 and 19, July 10 and 17, and Aug. 14 and 21.

This is the third year the City Council has approved recreation discounts for local military families at the suggestion of the Eagan Yellow Ribbon team.

KATIE HUMPHREY

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