Area briefs

PEQUOT LAKES -- Partners 56472 is a Healthy Community Partnership group, working in partnership with the Initiative Foundation.

Its next meeting will be 6:15 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 21, at the Eclipse Teen Center in the Lakes Area Family Center in Pequot Lakes. Action teams will work on community improvement goals.

Everyone is welcome and refreshments will be provided. For more information call Pequot Lakes Community Education at 568-9200.

Following are the action teams and their goals.

-- Youth Activities/Parks and Rec/Public Facilities Team.

Mission: To coordinate, develop and improve planned activities for all ages, and aid in the construction and maintenance of new and existing parks.

Current goals: Playground in Bobberland park, public swimming beach, annual clean up the park day, teen activities and center, community center, library and computer center, wish list from area communities, form lakes area parks and recreation board for greater 56472 area.

-- Affordable Housing and Wage Issues Team.

Mission: Improve job opportunities in the area through assisting business development and improving area people's ability to qualify for better jobs through increased training opportunities. Assist area Housing Authority in providing greater number and variety of affordable housing options.

Current goals: Investigate needs of existing businesses for training and assisting PLADO and the area chamber of commerce in offering business training in the area. Working with Central Lakes College and area businesses in offering community members training that will lead to better jobs and wages. Assist the Housing Authority in holding a housing summit to develop ways to make more affordable housing available to community members.

-- Planning & Zoning/Government Cooperation

Mission: To improve public involvement in planning and zoning and local government.

Current goals: Better communication of issues and opportunities to participate in local planning and zoning and governmental meetings. Clearer and more frequent newspaper announcements of meetings. Televise meetings so people can keep track.

Emily Charter School to host student dance

EMILY -- The Emily Charter School Student Council will hold a dance on from 7 to 11 p.m. March 9 with music and lights by Sound Force (DJ's).

The dance is open to all area students in grades 4-12.

The Emily Charter School sixth-grade class, along with the parent committee and community volunteers, will hold a carnival from 5:30 to 9 p.m. March 16 at the Emily Charter School featuring games, prizes, face painting and more.

Tickets for games will be sold at the front door. Fifty percent of the proceeds will go toward the sixth-grade clam trip to Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center. The remainder will go into the parent committee fund for any other upcoming field trips or requests from teachers.

Along with the carnival, there will be an informal open house to show improvements made this past school year. Food will be served in the gymnasium at no charge.

The Emily Charter School regular board meeting for March is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. March 7. The change is because of PIT conferences on March 6.