Social services plans classes on day care

Dakota County Social Services will host two classes this fall to inform parents about licensed child care.

Information will be offered about safe infant sleep practices and Minnesota child care safety regulations. Parents will get tips for creating effective relationships with their child care provider.

The classes will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24, at the Dakota County Northern Service Center, 1 Mendota Road W., West St. Paul, Rooms 110 A & B; and from 6 to 7 p.m. Nov. 7 at the Dakota County Western Service Center, 14955 Galaxie Av., Apple Valley, Room L139.

No registration is required. For more information, call 952-891-7400.

Vance Boelter, plant manager at Lettieri's in Shakopee, and Claire Giancola-Belmares, director of Talent Acquisition-Legal, were appointed by the Dakota County Board to the Dakota-Scott Workforce Investment Board.

Boelter will fill a vacancy on the board representing small business. He has experience in the food manufacturing industry and currently oversees production operations, quality, maintenance, safety and research and development projects at Lettieri's.

Giancola-Belmares will fill a vacancy on the board representing large business. She has more than 15 years of experience in human resources.

Auditions for the show were held earlier this month for performers ages 12 and older. Held in conjunction with Eagan High School, the event will showcase the talents of the Eagan community.

At least one member of any group of performers will be an Eagan resident.

"Eagan Has Talent" is not a contest, but an exhibition event only. Cash prizes will not be awarded. Proceeds from ticket sales will support the Eagan Foundation and the Eagan High School Muse Literary Arts program.

Tickets cost $10 for adults and $7 for students and seniors. They're available online at www.eaganfoundation.org.

State funding for protecting local lakes and streams is the topic of the Annual Metro Summit for Lake and River Groups from 5 to 8 p.m. Nov. 6 at the Eisenhower Community Center in Hopkins.

Representatives from the Board of Soil and Water Resources, Three Rivers Park District, the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District and the Coalition for Minnehaha Creek Waters will discuss uses for and strategies for obtaining funding from the Legacy Fund.

The cost to attend is $10 and includes dinner. To register or for more information, contact Alex Gehrig at agehrig@freshwater.org, 651-357-7486.

Spirit of Life Presbyterian Church in Apple Valley will start a Wednesday after-school program beginning Oct. 23.

"Meet in the Middle" will offer a variety of activities for children, youth and adults. School-age children can come after school for snacks, homework time, activities and a 6 p.m. meal, and older youth can come at 2:30 p.m. and stay for the 6 p.m. supper and community building sessions after dinner. Adults are also welcome to participate in the activities and stay for the meal.

The church is located at 14401 Pilot Knob Road in Apple Valley. For more information, call 952-423-2212 or go to www.spiritoflifeav.org.

At a meeting last week, City Council members directed staff to come up with alternative ways of managing the impact of the insect on city trees.

The city has 5,000 trees on city boulevards, and 40 percent are ash trees.