South metro town briefs

Produce swap The University of Minnesota's extension office is offering to help you save money by organizing CropSwaps, in which residents grow, share and trade garden produce with a small group of acquaintances.

Master gardeners will help participants pick a site, prepare the soil, and choose what to plant and how much to plant for a group. They will also help with questions on topics such as insects, fertilizer, storage and preservation.

Suggested spring crops include broccoli, lettuce, peas, radishes and spinach, followed by summer crops such as beans, carrots, corn, peppers and tomatoes. The fall harvest can include cauliflower, melons and potatoes.

Questions can go to Jackie Smith at 952-492-5390 or smith515@umn.edu.

Community gardens There's an early chance next week to weigh in on plans to use city property in Prior Lake for community gardens.

The city's Parks Advisory Committee will host a discussion on the subject at its March 19 meeting, which begins at 6 p.m. Members of the public are invited to offer ideas. City employees will talk about how the property could be used for gardening plots.

The issue will later move to the City Council.

Despite objections from some farmers and farm advocates worried that it erases agriculture from much of the county's land area, the plan now has Metropolitan Council approval. It awaits final adoption by the county board.

Brad Davis, planning manager, can be reached with any questions at 952-496-8654.

Minnesota author Readers of science fiction and fantasy will have a chance to meet an award-winning Minnesota author at the local library.

Lois McMaster Bujold, author of "The Sharing Knife" and the Miles Vorkosigan series, will be at the Heritage Library at 7 p.m. on March 31. She has won the Hugo Award, given for excellence in the science fiction and fantasy genre, the Mythopoeic Award for adult literature, and other fiction awards.

The free event is part of Dakota County Library's annual Minnesota Mosaic cultural arts series.

Egg hunt time It's egg hunt time in downtown Lakeville.

The Easter bunny -- and some live rabbits -- will be at the Lakeville Senior Center, 20732 Holt Av., on March 28 to host a morning full of Easter activities and pose for pictures.

The event, for children ages 2 to 10 accompanied by an adult, will feature breakfast and an egg hunt at downtown businesses. There will be two sessions: one from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. and one from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The cost is $8 per person and the registration deadline is March 23.

To register, call 952-985-4600.

'Silver lining' loans People who buy bank-owned homes in certain areas of Dakota County can get a little help from the Community Development Agency.

Eligible properties, including single-family houses, duplexes, townhouses and condominiums, are found in most Dakota County cities, except Mendota Heights. Dakota County townships are also excluded. The maximum purchase price of the house is $256,080 and the price cannot exceed 85 percent of appraised value.

Buyers must meet income requirements and qualify for a traditional fixed-rate first mortgage loan or be buying the home outright to apply for a Silver Lining loan through a participating mortgage lender.

For more information, visit the Dakota County Community Development Agency website, www.dakotacda.org/homebuyers.htm or call 651-675-4466.

Chat with the mayor Burnsville Mayor Elizabeth Kautz invites the public to her program called "Conversations with Mayor Kautz" on the second Thursday of most months from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. She holds the events in the community room at Jo Jo's Rise and Wine, 12501 Nicollet Av. in the lower level of the ParkCrest on Nicollet building in the Heart of the City. The next chat is tomorrow.

"There won't be any presentations at these sessions," Kautz said in a news release. "I want the experience to be relaxed and informal and, most importantly, an open exchange with those who want to make their voice heard."

Hundreds take Plunge The Polar Plunge held recently in Burnsville to benefit the Special Olympics drew 540 people to jump into frigid lake waters to raise more than $100,000. The Dakota County Sheriff's Office was well-represented, with the first set of jumpers consisting of Chief Deputy Dave Bellows and Cmdr. Barak (B.J.) Bjorge, along with Lakeville Police Chief Tom Vonhof, Burnsville Police Capt. Eric Werner and Lakeville Mayor Holly Dahl, according to the Sheriff's Office. The Minnesota State Patrol also helped organize the event.

Jumpers had solicited pledges. Burnsville police said money raised will contribute to the overall operating budget of programs for athletes. For further information, visit www. specialolympicsminnesota.org.

In 2008 the event had 340 plungers and raised $71, 000, Burnsville police said.

NAG seeks directors The Northfield Arts Guild is seeking directors for its 50th anniversary theater season, which runs from September to next August.

NAG needs directors for "Ah, Wilderness" by Eugene O'Neill, to be performed Oct. 16-25; "Donata's Gift" by Christine Kallman and Daniel Kallman, to be performed Nov. 20-Dec. 5; "Chicago" by Frank Ebb and John Kander, to be performed Feb. 12-28, 2010; "Proof" by David Auburn, to be performed April 9-18, 2010; "The Phantom Tollbooth" by Susan Nanus, based on the book by Norton Juster, to be performed June 17-27, 2010; and "Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare, to be performed Aug. 6-14, 2010, in Central Park. A copy of each script is available for checkout in the Northfield Arts Guild office.