South metro town briefs

Photos sought for 2011 city calendarPhotography enthusiasts have until Aug. 16 to submit their pictures for the 2011 community calendar.

To enter the contest, photographers must live, work or attend school in Farmington and take the photos within city limits. A panel of judges will select the winning images to be published along with the photographers' names in the calendar.

A photo contest entry form and complete rules can be found on the city website at www.ci.farmington.mn.us.

Author of book set in Minnesota to speakThe author of a novel set in southern Minnesota will give a talk next month at the Scott County Historical Society in Shakopee.

Frank Shima, author of "Dead Letter," will appear at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 12 for a presentation followed by question-and-answer session with the audience. The event is free with admission to the museum ($4 for adults, $2 for students).

Shima grew up in New Prague and lives near Stillwater. The book is described as "a fictional story of murder and romance," ignited when two elderly farmers are found dead, and a mailman and the brothers' niece start poking into what happened.

The Stans Museum is two blocks south of Hwy. 101 at 235 S. Fuller St. For details, call 952-445-0378, e-mail info@scottcountyhistory or visit www.scottcountyhistory .org.

The cones and floats are available Friday and Saturday, Aug. 6 and 7, from noon to 7 p.m. in Huber Park in Shakopee. Cones are $2 and root beer floats $3.

Outdoor movies shown in Huber ParkLive music and movies are being offered each week through mid September at Shakopee's Huber Park, along the Minnesota River.

The park is at 150 N. Fillmore St. N., and most events last for less than an hour. Here's what's on tap in the next month:

Thursday at 7 p.m.: "Wild Honey and the Locusts"

Aug. 4 at sunset: "Monsters vs. Aliens"

Aug. 12 at 7 p.m.: Everett Smithson Band

For more details, go to www.ci.shakopee.mn.us/parks_events.cfm. There's also a weather hotline, 952-233-9502.

Get registered for snowmobile trainingThe estimated 1,000 youthful snowmobilers in Scott County who need to complete safety training are being invited to take that training this fall through the Savage Sno-Pacers, a snowmobile club.

While it may seem a long way away, the club warns that class sizes are limited and seats are being taken up now.

Students must be 11 by the start of classes to enroll. Adolescents need eight hours of training for the safety certificate they need to operate the vehicle. The law limits use to those 12 and older with adult supervision or 14 and older without.

To register, e-mail Todd Tadsen at rmk800t@yahoo.com. For more information, visit www.mnsnowmobiler.org or www.snopacers.com.

Voters can learn more about candidatesNorthfield residents can ask questions and sort out who's worthy of their votes in the Aug. 10 City Council primary during a forum Thursday sponsored by the League of Women Voters.

Two City Council positions are open, and three candidates are running for each seat. The top two vote-getters for each seat will advance to the general election in November.

The candidates running for the at-large seat are Norman Butler, Steve Engler and Rhonda Pownell. Candidates for the Fourth Ward seat are Jon Denison, Patrick Ganey and Dale Gehring.

The forum is at 7 p.m. in the City Council chambers at Northfield City Hall, 801 Washington St.