West St. Paul has joined the list of cities moving to protect bees and other pollinators by creating bee-safe habitats for them.
The City Council approved a resolution Monday that says the city will plant pollinator-friendly flowers and avoid systemic pesticides.
The city is encouraging residents to do the same, and also to use organic and chemical-free lawn practices.
The West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan school board became the first in the state to pass a pollinator-friendly resolution this month.
BEATRICE DUPUY
ROSEMOUNT
MVTA adds bus route to downtown St. Paul
A new bus route offers express service between Rosemount and downtown St. Paul at $3 per ride. Minnesota Valley Transit Authority added peak trips during the morning and late afternoon.
Morning trips on Route 484 from Rosemount are 6:32 a.m. and 7:02 a.m., arriving at Union Depot at 7:10 and 7:40 a.m. Afternoon trips on Route 484R depart Union Depot at 3:50 and 4:20 p.m., arriving at the Rosemount Transit Station at 4:28 and 4:58 p.m.
These routes join others between St. Paul and south-metro suburbs, including Apple Valley, Burnsville and Eagan.
NATALIE DAHER
DAKOTA COUNTY
Program on aging offered next month
The Aging Mastery Program, a 10-course series on navigating retirement offered nationally, will come this year to Farmington and Rosemount. The first class is March 30 at the Rambling River Center in Farmington; the series will be offered in Rosemount this fall.
Topics covered include financial planning, medication management, health and fitness, and positive relationships. The series' structure gives participants "a measurable, tangible way of rewarding themselves," said Nicole Gorman, who's overseeing the program in Farmington.
Registration costs $30 for members of Rambling River Center and $40 for nonmembers. It's capped at 30 people. Those interested can sign up in person.
