Surrounded by family, Tracy Omann-Smith, arranges flowers in a vase on Valentine’s Day. “This is the busiest Valentine’s Day I can remember,” Omann-Smith said as she waded through flower petals coating the floor. Customers consistently enter and then exit with gifts for loved ones; arrangements leave to be delivered; and designers delicately and expertly place flowers in arrangements.

Collaborative concert set Sunday at SFX - The Youth Chorale of Central Minnesota and St. Cloud State University Concert Choir will perform a collaborative concert together at 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26 at St. Francis Xavier Church, 219 2nd St. N., Sartell. Tickets are available at the door.

Third-grade students in Jodie Kragness’ class recently got to do more than read about artifacts that date back to more than 7,000 years.

On Jan. 3 and Feb. 3, Dr. Debra Gold, an anthropology professor at St. Cloud State University, and SCSU students Erica Beacom, Minda Lee and Amanda Robinson spoke to the class at Kennedy Community School about just what it takes to be an archeologist.

The St. Joseph City Council voted 4-1 to spend up to $10,000 to hire a lobbyist to advocate on behalf of area cities in their request to the Minnesota Legislature for more time to consider a sales-tax extension.

Specifically, the lobbyist would help area communities, including S. Joseph, pass an extension of the local-option sales tax that will expire in 2018, according to city documents.

To attract new board members, the St. Joseph Economic Development Authority now meets two hours later.

In an effort to provide a more convenient meeting time for board members, the EDA now meets at 5 p.m. at St. Joseph City Hall. The EDA meets every fourth Wednesday of the month.

The St. Joseph Fire Department recently gained three new members.

The department welcomed firefighters Cory Molitor, Mike Folkerts and Ronald Schmidt. The pay-per-response firefighters replace retirees Jeff Karnik, Bill Wasner and Brian Orcutt.

Judy Purman, director of sustainability at the College of St. Benedict, recently led a discussion at the Minnesota Street Market about practicing sustainability.

Members of the audience were encouraged to participate in discussions on various ways people could practice more sustainability.

The sustainability movement at the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University, while working toward the goal of a “zero carbon footprint,” is challenging everyone, everywhere to set the same goal.

Dan and Josie Muyres are quick to tell you their 1-year-old daughter, Madeline, would not be alive today without the March of Dimes.

Madeline’s twin sister, Megan, died shortly after complications from birth, and it was the March of Dimes that provided not only resources for medical care but comfort and support. The Muyres are the Ambassador family for the St. Cloud March for Babies this year.

The College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University have signed the St. Francis Pledge for improved climate changes.

Judy Purman, the director of sustainability at CSB, said she received more than 30 emails from the college community and others who wanted to know if the college had considered the pledge.