South news briefs: Diversity group laying future plans in Shakopee

Diversity group laying future plansA group aimed at easing Shakopee into its new era of racial and ethnic diversity has some specific plans for the next year, and it's inviting residents to help with the coming events.

The Shakopee Diversity Alliance emerges from a first-ever diversity summit in March that attracted more than 140 people. Goals included "new ways to reach the city's diverse population, help improve communication, foster positive relationships and make the community more welcoming to all residents," city officials say.

In addition to a general hope to promote awareness, people who volunteered to form the new group are now focusing on two specific aims for the rest of this year and into 2013: An annual international festival, and a resource network to let new and existing residents in on what's out there to help them and their families.

People interested in the festival may e-mail Jay Whiting at jaywhtng@aol.com, while the contact for the resource network is Yvonne Anderson, yvonne.anderson@bhshealth.org, and for cultural awareness opportunities in general, Deb Barber at dbarber@canopymedical.com.

There's a meeting to choose leaders and move things further on July 24 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at City Hall, 129 S. Holmes St.

Help for owners of small businessesThe south metro chapter of SCORE, a nonprofit offering free advice to small businesses, is holding sessions at the Savage public library twice a month.

Confidential "counseling, coaching and mentoring," as the group puts it, is being offered on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month from 4 to 6 p.m. This month that means July 12 and 26.

Register by calling the library at 952-707-1770 or walk-in on a first-come, first-served basis. To learn more about the group, visit www.score-mn.org. For more on the libraries, it's www.scott.lib.mn.us.

A jump-start for kid entrepreneursNorthfield's Riverwalk Market Fair is hosting a "youth booth" for the first time in hopes of giving young people with business ideas an early boost.

The booths will give even pre-high-school age kids a chance to see "what it's like to produce a product, package and price it, display it and sell it," organizers say.

Three nonprofits are donating a tent and volunteer mentors. Applications can be downloaded from www.riverwalkmarketfair.org.

Examples so far have included kids as young as eleven selling origami sculpture, home-baked dog treats and homemade cake-pops.

Burnsville is keeping its compost site open until Sunday, while Prior Lake is keeping a phone line open until July 13.

In Prior Lake, an area of Hwy. 13 around Rustic and Fish Point roads was hardest hit and the city had crews in the area. Others can request wood debris pickups by calling 952-447-9800 through the end of next week.

Burnsville announced last week it is keeping its compost site open for debris dropoff until 8 p.m. Sunday. The site is behind Dodge of Burnsville on Pleasant Avenue. The city asks that you not put debris in plastic bags. The site is open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week.

Civil War cemetery tourThe second in a series of Civil War cemetery tours in Scott County will feature Oakwood, in Belle Plaine, later this month.

The walks and talks with costumed guides remember the stories of the county's Civil War vets as part of the 150th anniversary of the war.

The July 14 tour runs from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Participants meet at the corner of W. Park Street and S. Buffalo Street on the west end of Belle Plaine.

This is the second in a series, with Jordan coming up this fall and other cities next year.

The society is also inviting folks to a July 12 open house to show off its new research library: new paint, desk, computers, digital microfilm reader, Wi-Fi access and redesigned space. That event is 6:30 to 8 p.m. at 235 S. Fuller St., Shakopee.