South news briefs: Burnsville police offer free car seat checkups

Soliciting opinions on the future of policing

The Dakota County Sheriff's Office and West St. Paul police want the public's input on the status and future of law enforcement in Minnesota. To that end, the two departments will conduct a public meeting from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the West St. Paul YMCA, 150 Thompson Av. E. The meeting is part of a statewide initiative of the Minnesota Sheriffs' Association and the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association to start conversations with community members about policing in the 21st century. The sheriffs' association will publish a report in January based in part on these meetings.

Dakota County residents can dispose of paint, fluorescent light bulbs, gasoline, oil, televisions, computers, coffee makers and other devices free on Oct. 3.

No medicine, sharps, or yard, business or farm waste will be accepted.

Drop off the household hazardous wastes and electronics from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Burnsville Maintenance Facility, 13713 Frontier Court.

For a complete list of accepted items, search "hazardous waste events" at www.dakotacounty.us.

The Burnsville Police Department has three certified child passenger safety technicians within its officer ranks and will do free car seat checkups each month by appointment only.

The technicians will demonstrate how to properly install a car seat and let participants practice it themselves.

The dates of the checkups vary each month. Each appointment is about 30 minutes. Participants should bring their car seat and their child or children with them. They should also bring the car seat manual and the vehicle manual with them, if possible.

Participants who are pregnant should make an appointment a month or two before the child is due to be born.

The Eagan Theater Company's next production is an all-female version of "The Odd Couple," that will play for six shows Oct. 2 to 11.

The Neil Simon play from the 1960s has become a comedy classic. In Eagan Theater Company's version, "Oscar" is now Olive Madison, a divorced, sports-loving reporter who lives alone in a messy New York apartment. "Felix" is Florence Unger, a newly separated clean freak who moves in with Olive.

The play will be at Henry Sibley High School, 1897 Delaware Av. in Mendota Heights. Performances will be Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.

Advance tickets are $18 for adults or $16 for seniors 60 and older and students 17 and younger. At the door, tickets are $20 for adults and $18 for seniors and students.

Tickets are available at www.etc-mn.org or at the door one hour before showtime.

The Hmong American Farmers Association (HAFA) will celebrate the end of its second growing season on the HAFA farm with an open house Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. at the farm at 20385 Coates Blvd. in Hastings.

The association said that for many years, Hmong American farmers have sold their produce at farmers markets throughout the Twin Cities. But the farmers' ability to make a living has been declining due to barriers that limit access to land, financing, training and research, and saturation of vendors at the markets.

Entertainment at the open house will include Gospel Machine, Mu Performing Arts, Tou Saiko Lee and Payne Avenue. Food will be from Destiny Cafe and the HAFA farm.

For more information, call Winnie Zwick at 651-493-8091.

The last of this summer's Pedal the Parks bicycle tour will be held Saturday, Sept. 19.

The "Southern Charm" tour will begin at Pioneer Plaza at 20801 Holyoke Av. and travel to Lake Marion and the Juno Trail before returning to downtown Lakeville on several greenway trails for the Arts Festival and farmers market.

The Pedal the Parks bike rides begin at 9 a.m. and are 12 to 16 miles long and last up to two hours. The cost is $5 per family. All ages and riding abilities are welcome. Helmets are required.

Registration is required. Go to the Lakeville Parks and Recreation tab at www.lakevillemn.gov or register in person at City Hall.

PAT PHEIFER