The Eagan & Lakeville Resource Center invites you to join them at Zest! A local event of global cuisine on Thursday, December 5th from 6:00pm - 9:30pm at Lost Spur Golf and Event Center (2750 Sibley Memorial Highway, Eagan). The 2nd annual event promises to be even more exciting and fun! Enjoy an evening of music and food with family and friends while supporting our mission to eliminate hunger in Dakota County. The evening will include diverse tastings from local restaurants, lively music and entertainment, signature drinks and craft beer sampling, a free photo booth and 2 exciting raffle packages. For more information or to purchase tickets go to www.eaganrc.org. Ticket sales limited and we expect to sell out so purchase your tickets now!

ProAct began with beverage containers, expanded to plastic bags and has now added Christmas lights, electric and phone cords to its recycling collection and sorting systems, rolling out an expansive effort that runs from November 15 through January 31, 2014.  Working closely with the Recycling Association of Minnesota, and its "Recycle Your Holidays" program, the nonprofit serving people with disabilities will contribute toward the annual goal to collect 200,000 pounds of holiday lights.  These will be individually disassembled and the cords cut into one foot sections by people with disabilities at ProAct's Eagan and Red Wing facilities, explains ProAct Production Coordinator Jennifer Cavalier.  She notes that the nonprofit is not able to accept cord adapters, battery packs, plastic rope lights or CFL lights. Drop off locations serviced by ProAct are offered in Dakota, Goodhue and Wabasha counties.  Click here to view a list of drop off locations.

CBL Floors has been named Retailer of the Year, as voted by members of the Minnesota Floor Covering Association. CBL Floors is family-owned and has been in business since 1979. Diane Hanzal and Jen Staloch handle the residential sales, while Frank and Brandon Hanzal work primarily with commercial accounts. Sherrill Patnode manages the office and  Ben Brasel supervises the warehouse. Frank and Diane are very appreciative of the award. Their biggest joys are seeing former customers again, their children and even their grandchildren. People come into the store with great stories of past experiences, and want to catch up on the happenings in everyone's lives. "Referrals and past customers are a big percentage of CBL's business. Everyone's home is their castle and we get to help them Create Beautiful Living, that's the CBL difference."

New Horizons Minnesota needs your help! They recently applied for a grant that will help them "Give Back." The grant funds will allow New Horizons Minnesota to Give Back to the community by helping Veterans and displaced workers get the skills they need to compete in today's employment market. You can help them win this grant!  To win they need 250+ votes to be considered.  The deadline is November 15th, so please vote now! To vote, click this link to go to the grant website. Once you get to the site please type in "New Horizons Minnesota" and search for them. You will have the option to vote on the right-hand side.  You need a Facebook account to vote.  None of your information will be stored or tracked, per their policy, it is just their way of confirming each person only votes once. Your help is greatly appreciated!  With your support, New Horizons Minnesota is confident that they can make an impact on Veterans and displaced workers!