South metro news briefs: New site for Feed My Starving Children

The Eagan meal-packing site of Feed My Starving Children is expanding.

The site, currently located at 990 Lone Oak Road, Suite 160, will move Aug. 20 to Suite 136 on the north side of the same building.

The move will increase the number of packing stations from six to eight, boosting production capacity from 27 million to 42 million meals a year.

When fully ramped up, the larger site will be able to accommodate 3,400 volunteers a week, up from 2,200 per week.

The move also will increase warehouse space for the organization's Minnesota-based MobilePack operations and for two departments of the group's international programs.

This is the second time in less than a year that the organization has expanded one of its three meal-packing sites in Minnesota.

The Chanhassen location moved to larger space in January. The nonprofit also operates a site in Coon Rapids.

The on-farm research event will focus on practices and products that increase fertilizer efficiency to match needs of farm crops. It aims to help farmers maximize profitability while minimizing environmental risks.

The event is set for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 13, at the farm research site located on Knox Path, just south of Hastings. From Hastings, drive south on Hwy. 61, turn west onto 170th Street and follow signs to the field tent on Knox Path. The event is free and open to the public.

A corn rootworm clinic will be offered. University of Minnesota Extension educators will demonstrate how to evaluate corn roots for damage. Discussion about managing corn rootworm resistance will also take place. Certified crop advisers will be on hand.

The event is sponsored by University of Minnesota Extension, Dakota County and in part by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

For information, contact Phyllis Bongard, extension educator, at 651-480-7757 or bonga028@umn.edu. Participants can also visit www.dakotacounty.us, search for "agriculture," then look for "Agriculture Event Calendar."

The city gives the award to recognize those that do their best to "build a brighter future for Burnsville."

Community building could include helping the environment, volunteering, working with youth, coaching or contributing to events and projects that build community pride.

The award has no age limit and has been presented to youth and seniors. Burnsville residency is not required.

Nomination forms are available at www.burnsville.org/communitybuilder or by sending a typed or printed letter, including the name of the nominee, contact information and reason for the nomination, to: Community Builder Award, City of Burnsville, 100 Civic Center Pkwy., Burnsville, MN 55337.

The deadline for nominations is 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3.

Birnamwood Golf in Burnsville will hold its 34th Fire Muster Junior Golf Tournament Aug. 21 for youth golfers.

The tournament is open to golfers between the ages of 8 and 16. Registration is limited to 36 participants per flight.

A $15 entry fee includes golf, lunch, door prizes and trophies.

Schedules for the age brackets are: 13- to 16-year-old golfers from 8 to 10 a.m.; 11- and 12-year-old golfers from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; and 8- to 10-year-old golfers from 1 to 3 p.m.

The public is invited to comment on the findings of a study about how to encourage development along the Cedar Avenue Red Line busway.

Dakota County, Hennepin County, Dakota County Community Development Agency and the cities of Bloomington, Eagan, Apple Valley and Lakeville have worked together on the study, which was paid for by the Corridors of Opportunity initiative of the Metropolitan Council.

The goal of the study is to identify strategies to encourage development and redevelopment around six stations along the route in Lakeville, Apple Valley, Eagan and the Mall of America in Bloomington. The final report will be published this fall.

To learn more about the project and the public open house, contact Dakota County Transit Specialist Joe Morneau at 952-891-7986 or joe.morneau@co.dakota.mn.us.