South news briefs: Flood-hit residents can seek loans

Shakopee residents hit by the June floods could be eligible for loans.

There's a meeting today to provide more information.

State loans of up to $70,000 are offered through the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency and the Center for Energy and Environment.

They're for improvements that return the home to roughly pre-disaster conditions.

The meeting is from 7 to 8 p.m. today at the Scott County Law Enforcement Center, 301 S. Fuller St., Shakopee.

There are two types of loans:

• Community Fix Up flood loans can provide up to $50,000 if you qualify with a credit rating. The interest rate is 3 percent.

These are interest free and forgiven if the owner remains in the home for 10 years. Funding for rental properties is also available.

More information about these programs is available at www.ShakopeeMN.gov.

Two major events are coming up this weekend aiming to connect suburbanites with rural food producers.

In Dakota County, a local food co-op's free annual Farm Fest is this weekend. Organizers call it the largest local producer and farmer-oriented family event south of the river.

And in Scott County, there's a new version of the discontinued "City to Country" tours.

It allows you to meet more than 30 local producers, sample food, and enjoy music and family entertainment.

There are also guided and self-guided tours of gardens as part of the Twin Cities' Community Garden Day, sponsored by Gardening Matters.

For more information visit http://tinyurl.com/mzh6sno

In Scott County, the City to Country events are part of an Autumn Fare the same day.

The Scott County Agricultural Society and Scott County Extension are offering activities from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Scott County Fairgrounds, Jordan.

Attendees will learn the basics of canning, farm and machinery safety, raising poultry in your back yard and others. The Carver-Scott Extension Master Gardeners will provide several sessions in their gardens, and there will be butter churning demos.

Open Circle Church in Burnsville will hold its annual Harvest Festival on Saturday.

A bake sale and yard sale are from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., with the rest of the activities, such as a bounce house for kids, beginning at 10 a.m.

It's open to the public.

Proceeds support Dakota Woodlands Shelter, a provider of shelter and supportive services to homeless women and families in Eagan.

Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges and Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Chairman Charlie Vig have signed an agreement to partner on a "biochar" study for growing food.

In five demonstration gardens, the city is studying the idea of combining compost with biochar, a soil amendment similar to charcoal. That's meant in part to increase crop yields and improve water quality by reducing runoff.

Minneapolis is among the first U.S. cities to study the benefits. The focus will be locally grown food for underserved communities including Native Americans.

The 24th Street Urban Farming Coalition is using the food it grows in one of five biochar demonstration gardens to help restore traditional diets and combat diabetes, hypertension, obesity and other problems associated with eating processed foods.

The Waite House prepares and donates meals made from the vegetables grown in Medicine Garden; at the same time it helps at-risk youths become more employable by training them in the catering business.

James and his six bug friends take on an adventure in a magical peach, in a show that lasts for about an hour.

It's aimed at kids with an adult to accompany them.

The outing is September 25, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Participants meet at the Lakefront Park Pavilion, 5000 Kop Parkway, Prior Lake

Cost is $15 for residents, $20 for nonresidents.

A grocery store feasibility study is expected to be one topic as Elko New Market's city administrator offers a State of the City chat next week.

In a moderated Q-and-A format, Tom Terry will respond to guests' questions submitted by Friday to Joe Julius (jjulius@newmarketbank.com) or Bob Larsen (bob@twincityhome.com).

The Firehouse Grille is the setting, and it's $10 for Chamber of Commerce members, $15 for guests.

The address is 7875 Old Town Road, Elko New Market, and the start time on Tuesday is 7:30 a.m.

Three Rivers parks is inviting you on a "fall colors kayak tour" next week.

Views of wildlife are hoped for as well, and previous paddling experience is required.

Children age 14 and over are welcome but must attend with an adult.

Equipment is provided but the cost is $45 and reservations are required. Call 763-559-6700 and mention activity number #427712-00.

Other upcoming parks programs offered by Three Rivers in the south metro in the days to come:

Wednesday, September 17, from 10-11:30 a.m., at Cleary Lake Regional Park, Prior Lake.

Cost is $5 per person and reservations are required. Call 763-559-6700 and mention #424503-01.

Thursday, September 18, from 1-2 p.m., at Cleary Lake. Meet other families interested in getting their children outdoors. Free and open to all ages.

Saturday, September 20, from 10-11:30 a.m., at Cleary Lake. Outdoor exploration and play. Cost is $5 per person and reservations are required.

Call 763-559-6700 to make a reservation: activity number 42450302. This is for ages 3-6.