Historian says proposed Oak Park Heights street will work

Building an exit road from a tiny neighborhood in Oak Park Heights won't hurt restoration of a nearby scenic overlook and long-ago highway rest stop, a state historian wrote in a recent letter.

Kristen Zschomler, a historian and archaeologist at the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), said a proposal to restore a portion of Peabody Avenue and reroute it to Lookout Trail "will not destroy historical materials, features and spatial relationships that characterize the property."

Residents of eight properties on Peabody met recently with the City Council and MnDOT representatives to discuss why their exit road was barricaded as part of the St. Croix River bridge project. MnDOT said the longtime exit, which residents used in winter because it wasn't as steep as the entrance road, was closed as part of the scenic overlook's restoration.

The closed road had merged with the overlook entrance at Lookout Trail, but the new road would merge 90 feet south of there. It would be paved; trees would be planted as a visual buffer, and an emergency turnaround built after the old road was barricaded about a month ago would be removed.

The proposal meets U.S. Secretary of Interior standards, Zschomler wrote to Mary Ann Heidemann, manager of government programs and compliance at the Minnesota Historic Preservation Office.

The City Council might examine the plan at its Tuesday meeting, city administrator Eric Johnson wrote to residents.

The Suicide Prevention Collaborative is conducting its third annual fundraiser 5K run/walk July 27 at Hamlet Park, 8833 Hamlet Road S., Cottage Grove. Participants of all abilities are welcome.

The community-based group is dedicated to preventing teen suicide in the eastern metro area.

Craig Woolery, Cottage Grove's public safety director, received his Firefighter 1, 2 and Hazardous Materials certification on May 11. Woolery, who oversees the Police and Fire departments, voluntarily enrolled in firefighter training.

"I thought it would help me become a better advocate for our firefighters if I really understood their job," he said.

From January to May, while continuing to perform his normal work duties, Woolery completed 140 hours of training required of Cottage Grove firefighters.

Nine other Cottage Grove residents also completed training: Matt Hoffman, Tom Graff, Luke Leipzig, Randy Nelson, Nicole Nickel, Kevin Malecek, Rick Munoz, Devon Radtke and Joe Rein. Once they finish EMS training they will become members of the Fire Department.

"While an act of nature like a tornado can do its damage in mere minutes, rebuilding and recovery can take months and years," said Keith Olson, president of the foundation. "It's our hope that this donation will help speed that process, and help the people and communities affected in Oklahoma rebuild."

Over the past decade, the foundation has contributed nearly $2.5 million to aid disaster recovery efforts from Red River Valley flooding, hurricanes Sandy, Katrina and Rita, tornadoes in the Midwest and earthquakes in Haiti.

Woodbury has earned official recognition as a Minnesota GreenStep City and will receive an award for advancing to become a Step 3 city by completing 22 best practices. The award will be recognized at the League of Minnesota Cities 2013 conference and shows Woodbury is taking great steps toward energy and resource conservation and innovation.

Woodbury is one of 56 participating cities in the state, including six others in Washington County. Minnesota GreenStep Cities, a Minnesota Pollution Control Agency challenge, assistance and recognition program, helps cities achieve sustainability and quality-of-life goals.

The public is invited to Listen@the Library, a series of music programs at Oakdale Library, starting June 12. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Rain or shine, the show will go on. If necessary, the program can move indoors.

• Sheltered Reality will be featured at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. This is a group of young people who have overcome hardships. Together, they perform as a drum line and share their stories, encouraging audience members to advocate for those in need, especially children and families.

• The Half Steps will be featured at 6:30 p.m. July 10. This is an a cappella singing group. Four men sing a set that runs from barbershop to doo-wop to Elvis and Dean Martin.

• 33 Degrees North will be featured at 6:30 p.m. Aug 7. This steel-drum performance group offers Caribbean sounds.

The library is at 1010 Heron Av. N., Oakdale. Call 651-730-0504 for more information. The program is funded by the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment.

Scandia is collaborating with the Gammelgården Museum again this summer to offer a weekly farmers market. Patrons may buy fresh produce, honey, baked goods, crafts and many other products. The market will be held 4-7 p.m. Wednesdays through Sept. 25 at the museum, 20880 Olinda Trail.

Hard work by volunteers has guaranteed the success of the Marine Library Association, board members Sue Logan and Tom Triplett told county commissioners recently.

The association was formed after Washington County closed the Marine on St. Croix branch. Since the beginning of 2012, the association has been able to maintain a reading room, staffed and supported primarily by volunteers, Logan said.

Currently, 436 residents of Marine on St. Croix, Scandia and May Township hold library cards. Several standing-room-only programs for adults have been completed, and 24 reading events are planned for children this summer.

The association is expanding its offerings to Scandia residents, with a book exchange at Scandia City Hall, and with the support of the Scandia/Marine Lions Club, Triplett said, which is providing supplies for the summer reading programs.