South news briefs: Burnsville workshop offers tips to battle buckthorn

The city is hosting a free workshop Sept. 16 to share tips with Burnsville residents who want to clear buckthorn from their properties. ¶ The class, "Take Back Your Woods — How to Win the Buckthorn Battle," will run from 6:15 to 7:15 p.m. at City Hall, 100 Civic Center Pkwy. Cheryl Culbreth, owner of Landscape Restoration Inc., will cover a variety of topics, including how to remove buckthorn, how to bring back native plants and how to maintain woodlands. She will also talk about city programs available to assist residents who want to get rid of buckthorn, an invasive species. ¶ Space is limited and preregistration is required. Register by calling 952-895-4550.

Minnesota's natural wonders, the millennial generation and relations between the United States and Cuba are among the topics that will be covered in the fall sessions of Senior Adults Learning Together (SALT).

SALT, organized by a group of Dakota County churches, will offer the lectures for people age 55 and over at Church of the Risen Savior in Burnsville on Sept. 21, Sept. 28, Oct. 5 and Oct. 12. Each Monday, participants can attend two of the four offered presentations, held at 9:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. The lectures are followed by an optional catered lunch with entertainment.

There is a $5 fee each Monday to attend the lectures. Lunch and entertainment is an additional $9. For a schedule of lecture topics and registration information, go to www.risensavior.org/salt or call Marianne at 952-431-5222.

The city is hosting "Streets Alive: The Cedar Grove Experience" on Saturday, Sept. 12 near the Twin Cities Premium Outlet Mall.

The free event at 3965 Eagan Outlets Pkwy. will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be face painting and inflatable games, booths about city and community services, contests and giveaways, and food from local restaurants and more than 20 food trucks. Throughout the day, there will be live music by Armadillo Jump, LaValle Jazz Cats and 7 Cats Swing.

Attendees can park at the Twin Cities Premium Outlet or the city of Eagan's parking garage. There will also be shuttles to Streets Alive from Christ Lutheran Church, 1930 Diffley Road, and Cedar Alternative Center school, 2140 Diffley Road.

Tee it up for the Troops is hosting a craft beer tasting and golf tournament at The Meadows at Mystic Lake this month to raise money for organizations that work with military veterans.

The cocktail and craft beer tasting, Foam of the Brave, will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Sept. 10 featuring local breweries and live music by CreatiVets and Chris Hawkey of KFAN Radio. There will also be a silent auction. The event is open to the public and costs $25 per person.

The golf tournament on Sept. 11 is sold out, but the public is invited to the opening ceremony at 11:30 a.m. The ceremony features a bagpiper and honor guard, a gathering of veterans, a wreath-laying ceremony and patriotic music performed by Rockie Lynne. The ceremony is free to attend and people can also bid on silent auction items at the event.

For more information about Tee it up for the Troops, go to www.teeitupforthetroops.org.

Cedar Park Elementary in the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan district is one of six elementary and middle schools across the state being recognized as a 2015-16 Minnesota School of Excellence. The Apple Valley school's principal is John Garcia.

Garcia said the process of making that plan helped the school recognize its strengths, including a focus on student data and achievement. In the process, staff also brainstormed ways to improve, such as coming up with new ways to get families involved in the school.

A street fair Saturday, Sept. 12 will showcase downtown Shakopee revitalization projects and promote exploring the area on foot or by bicycle.

The event, "Move and Make on Main," will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. along 1st Avenue between Holmes and Sommerville streets. There will be live music, lawn games, a pop-up art gallery and pop-up patios, food and drink for sale, community booths and family friendly activities. People can also help paint the base colors of the Holmes Street Tunnel Mural guided by professional artist Tony Stafki.

Learn more about the event and mural painting at www.shakopee.org.