South metro town briefs

City is finalist for national honor Just months after Burnsville Mayor Elizabeth Kautz became president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Burnsville officials have disclosed that the city is a finalist in a national competition sponsored by that group.

Burnsville is among 15 finalists for a City Livability Award. The nomination was for the city's sustainability plan, which includes such elements as greenhouse gas reduction, renewable energy, energy efficiency and healthy urban forests. It's posted on the city's website at www.burnsville.org/sustainability.

Awards will go to 10 cities in two population categories: Over 100,000 and under 100,000. Awards will be presented in June in Oklahoma City. For more on the award, visit www.usmayors.org/citylivabilityawards.

Apple Valley, Shakopee among building leaders After a boom year last year, Shakopee is trailing the leaders in new home construction in the metro area. But it still is showing a much steadier pulse than a lot of other places are these days.

The Builders Association of the Twin Cities recently released figures for the first quarter of the year, showing Apple Valley (145 units) as the south-metro leader in building activity, followed by Shakopee (63).

The overall metro leader so far is Woodbury (279 units), followed by Minneapolis (172). Apple Valley is third.

Senior Spring Show is today at Mystic Lake A 10-minute film examining the future of elderly care will be featured as part of the Senior Spring Show today at Mystic Lake Casino in Prior Lake.

The Senior Show is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with the film screening at 10 a.m.

Admission to the show is $3 with the half-price coupon available at www.101expos.com, and free to kids 17 and under when accompanied by an adult. Fore more information, call 612-798-7256.

Apartment fire caused by smoking The March 16 fire at the Observatory Apartments in Burnsville was caused by careless smoking, Fire Marshal Lee Latourelle said.

The fire began on a first-floor balcony, then spread to the second and third floors. A sprinkler system kept the blaze from moving any further into the structure, investigators found. No one was injured.

Health achievement awards announced A teen who promotes healthy eating, a dentist who fixes teeth for uninsured children and a church group that offers community gardens are this year's recipients of Dakota County's Public Health Achievement Award.

Mariah Geiger, a junior at Farmington High School, won the youth award for her work with Catalyst, a statewide group of young people who advocate healthy eating and fight the tobacco industry. She also has led local efforts to push for smoke-free parks and the 2007 Freedom to Breath Act limiting smoking in the workplace.

In the individual category, the county recognized Dr. Jerry Rauchwarter, a dentist practicing in Eagan. Over the last two years, he has provided free dental care to 160 uninsured children. Prior to that, he had been offering free dental care to low-income families through the American Dental Association's "Give Kids a Smile" program.

International Outreach Church got kudos in the community group category for its efforts to make community garden plots available to low-income and immigrant families who live in apartments. The group provided 56 garden plots in 2009.

Cleanup day planned at city parks, ponds The city is looking for volunteers to do some spring cleaning during the ninth annual Park and Pond Cleanup Day.

Individuals and groups are welcome to participate in the event and collect debris from city-owned parks and ponds for two hours starting at 9 a.m. on May 1. Volunteers will be treated to lunch after the work is done.

To volunteer, contact Jen Dullum at 651-280-6845 or jdullum@ci.farmington.mn.us by April 23.