Washington County Historical Society seeks internship candidates

The Washington County Historical Society is inviting post-secondary students to apply for a paid 10-week summer internship at the Warden's House Museum in Stillwater and the Hay Lake School Museum in Scandia. The deadline for applications is May 24.

Applicants must send a letter of application, resume and two letters of reference to the Washington County Historical Society, c/o Internship Committee, P.O. Box 167, Stillwater, MN 55082. Call 651-439-5956 or visit www.wchsmn.org for more information.

The intern must be an undergraduate or graduate student majoring in history or a related field. The intern will learn about day-to-day operations of a small history museum, including interpretation, exhibit display and design, collections care and preservation of artifacts. Opportunities will be offered to attend board meetings, participate in fundraising activities, assist with society-sponsored events and contribute to the quarterly newsletter.

Majel Carroll, president of the Stone Soup Thrift Shop and an advocate for those in need, has been honored as Cottage Grove's 2012 Volunteer of the Year.

Carroll also has been part of the Cottage Grove's Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Committee and the South Washington County Partnership group, which is a group of various service providers and organizations that help families. She has also been the volunteer executive director for Stone Soup Thrift Shop since the mid-'90s.

"It's humbling," said Carroll. "It's not something I look for, the awards. If I had to have somebody write something on my tombstone it would be she left this place a little better than when she came in."

A Special Recognition Award also was given to a husband-and-wife team, Gayle and John Brunkow, for their work on the Cottage Grove Strawberry Fest.

The groundbreaking signaled the start of construction in earnest on the site of the old Cottage View Drive-In movie theater on Douglas Point Road off Hwy. 61.

The store is expected to be completed by spring 2014, and will employ about 300 people. It will anchor the new Shoppes at Cottage View retail center.

The sign, screen and projector equipment of the movie theater have been moved to the Little Log House Pioneer Village in Hastings.

The arrival of spring means honeybee colonies start to build up their numbers, and if they run out of space in their hive, they swarm.

Beekeepers say don't be alarmed if you come across a swarm of honeybees — they are doing what honeybees do and are not remotely interested in humans. In fact, before leaving their hive the bees fill up their stomachs with honey and are rather mellow; their sole intention is to find a new home to build up a new colony.

The public can help by contacting a beekeeper through the St. Croix Valley Beekeepers Association's website at http://stcroixbeekeepers.org, then click on "Services" and go to "Swarm Removal" and scroll down to members listed.

More than 90 Habitat for Humanity AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps alumni each will spend a week in St. Croix Falls, Wis., participating in Habitat for Humanity International's annual AmeriCorps Build-a-Thon.

The Build-a-Thon, held late April though early June, highlights the need for affordable housing while celebrating AmeriCorps members' service with Habitat. Nationally, the Build-a-Thon will be held at five locations and engage more than 400 AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps alumni from 37 states.

"We are so grateful to these terrific AmeriCorps members," said Eric Kube, executive director of Wild Rivers Habitat for Humanity. "They are going to make it possible to serve so many of our local families who need help with their housing. We will be able to work on eight homes during the one week they are here."

Wild Rivers Habitat for Humanity was one of only five affiliates chosen to host this year's annual event. Build-a-Thon locations will work on neighborhood revitalization efforts and will include new house construction, rehabilitation of existing homes and minor home repairs, as well as community service projects in partnership with local organizations.

The Government Center is at 14949 62nd St. N. in Stillwater. The meeting, which is open to the public, is in Lower Level, Room 13. For more information, contact Cindy Rupp at 651-430-6562.