Washington County briefs: Child care providers recognized for their work

Two child care providers in south Washington County were recognized recently for their positive influences on children in their care and for their professional approach to their work.

Nancy Schmidt of Oakdale and Sarah Stadler of Cottage Grove were recognized as Family Child Care Providers of the Year for 2015 at last week's County Board meeting.

Schmidt began working as a nanny at 19. Her license allows her to care for 12 children.

Stadler, licensed for 13 years, can care for up to 12 children also.

The Washington County Board recently amended the Lake Elmo Park Reserve master plan to include an adjoining parcel of land as a possible addition to the park.

The owners of 10112 10th St. N. expressed interest in selling their 33.5-acre parcel to the county, parks director John Elholm said at a recent board meeting. The property is adjacent to the park northeast of the intersection of 10th Street and Keats Avenue. The eastern 18.2 acres of that land weren't mapped within the Lake Elmo Park Reserve's master plan.

Amending the park boundary will allow for additional trails and habitat restoration, Elholm told commissioners.

The plan was reviewed at a public open house at Lake Elmo City Hall in May, and also by the Washington County Park and Open Space Commission in May.

Susan Elmer has been named the new program manager at the Bayport Senior Center. She will replace Sue Schultz, who is retiring after 15 years.

Elmer has a degree in therapeutic recreation from the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. She was program director at YMCA Camp St. Croix in Hudson, Wis., for 10 years. She has been a community volunteer, assisting with festivals and events in the St. Croix Valley for many years, including serving as a volunteer in Stillwater schools.

Effective in July, the Bayport center will be housed at the White Pine Building at 342 Fifth Av. N. The space was formerly occupied by the local chapter of the American Red Cross.

The Bayport center, managed by Community Thread, opened in 2000. To learn more, visit www.communitythreadmn.org, or call 651-439-7434.

Arcola Mills, the site of the 1847 Mower mansion that is situated on 55 preserved acres on the St. Croix River, will have an open house on Sunday, June 14. The event will offer historical and architectural tours, and access to hiking trails on the property, which will be open from noon to 4 p.m.

Established in 1847 by John and Martin Mower, the Arcola site was one of the earliest hubs of the logging industry on the St. Croix. The mansion is one of the two oldest timber frame houses in Minnesota still standing.

Tours will be offered at 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Advance registration is not required. Arcola Mills is at 12905 Arcola Trail N., 6 miles north of Stillwater on Hwy. 95.

Wade Johnson, of May Township, will serve on the Carnelian-Marine Watershed District after the Washington County Board made the appointment in May. Johnson will serve a three-year term expiring June 21, 2018.

Watershed district governance, required by state law, helps to control or alleviate damage by floods, improve stream channels for drainage or navigation; and protect groundwater, among other responsibilities.

A portion of Valley Creek Road, from Dancing Waters Parkway/Woodcrest Drive to Settlers Ridge Parkway, will be closed at least through mid-July for improvements in the Cottage Grove Drive project. A detoured route will be posted. Questions can be directed to the Engineering Department at 651-714-3593.

Kevin Giles