Washington County news briefs: Woodbury road race to honor Danielle Jelinek

The first annual "5K for Dani J," a run around Woodbury's Colby Lake to honor Danielle Jelinek and raise funds for the Domestic Abuse Project, will start at 9 a.m. on Aug. 17.

Registration is now open or can be completed starting at 8 a.m. on the day of the race. Fees are $15, or $20 on the day of the race.

Register at http://www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=2104302, or call 651-329-0269.

This event is being held to honor, celebrate and remember Jelinek's life. A dedicated runner despite having asthma, she grew up in Cottage Grove and lived in Oakdale before she disappeared last December. Her body was found five months later.

A new learning area known as "Smart Play Spot" will be built at R.H. Stafford Library in Woodbury.

The Washington County Board recently approved using $19,000 from library funds and a $1,000 grant from the Minnesota Library Foundation to help pay for the learning area, which will give children an interactive opportunity to practice what Patricia Conley, the county's library director, described as the five basic building blocks of literacy: singing, talking, reading, writing and playing.

The money will match a Minnesota Children's Museum grant.

Hardrives, Inc., a Rogers company, has been selected to rebuild County Roads 23 and 24 in Stillwater and Oak Park Heights.

The County Board awarded the $382,131.41 contract on July 2.

The project includes replacing deteriorated pavement from S. 4th Street to 4th Avenue in Oak Park Heights and Stillwater. The county roads have different local street names, such as Orleans, Paris and Beach, as they wind through the cities.

The project includes the addition of a three-foot boulevard on the north side of the road from S. 3rd Street to 4th Avenue. Broken storm sewer pipes will be replaced and a safety bump-out will be installed at S. 3rd Street near Oak Park Elementary School. The project will widen the north sidewalk to five feet and add a three-foot boulevard. On-street parking will be maintained.

This is the second phase of a four-phase project to reconstruct the county roadway, after improvement of Stillwater's 3rd Street S. last year. The current work should be completed in September, said construction engineer Cory Slagle.

The class is presented by the Metropolitan Area Agency On Aging and will teach attendees who have little or no experience about computer basics and Internet searching. Space is limited, so register ahead of time.

For more information about this and other programs at the Stillwater Public Library, call 651-275-4338, ext. 111, or visit the website at www.stillwaterlibrary.org.

A pancake breakfast to observe Community Thread's "Christmas in July" event will be held from 8-11 a.m. July 20, at the agency at 2300 W. Orleans St. in Stillwater.

The breakfast will feature a Christmas tree, music, toy donations and a visit from "Summer Santa."

A ticket of $6 for adults, $4 for children and seniors (children under 3 are free), which can be purchased at the door, buys an all-you-can-eat breakfast of pancakes. Proceeds benefit Community Thread's Holiday Hope Program (formerly Holiday Bureau) that helps people in need during the holiday season.

Motorcycle enthusiasts are invited to the inaugural River Falls Cruisin' for a Cause motorcycle run on July 20.

All proceeds will go to the Schaffhausen Memorial Fund to develop a special playground to commemorate and honor the lives of murder victims Amara, Sophie and Cecilia Schaffhausen.

Registration begins at 9 a.m. for the run starting at 11 a.m. at St. Croix Lanes, 1153 St. Croix St. in River Falls, Wis..

The 100-mile cruise will wind through Wisconsin's scenic countryside, with venues including Molly's in Plum City, Sassy's Bar in Arkansaw, Cubby's Country Zone in Downsville and Iron Horse Saloon in Spring Valley. Finish and a poker draw will be hosted by Johnnie's Bar in River Falls.

For more information, e-mail rfcruisinforacause@gmail.com. Cost is $10 for a bike and rider, $5 for a passenger and $5 for each poker hand.

Also, exhibits are needed from anyone who gardens, takes photos, does crafts or needlework or other activities. Exhibits are accepted July 29, 4-9 p.m., or July 30, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Prospective vendors and exhibitors also can contact Dorie Ostertag at 651-436-6009 or e-mail her at otag@aol.com for an application.

The fair is July 31-Aug. 4.

The Washington County Board has made reappointments to committees and commissions of residents who had terms expiring June 30. Reappointed were:

• To the Child Protection Citizen Review Panel, Gina Kuchenmeister, Oakdale; Martha Gerkey, Stillwater; Dawn Hyland, Woodbury; Guy Sederski, Oak Park Heights; and Margaret Hart, Oak Park Heights.

• To the Workforce Investment Board, Jane Klein, small business; Jeffery Britten, labor representative; Mary Schmidt, job services representative; Whitney Ridlon, economic development; Michelle Kemper, Community Services representative.