Star Party, Park Reserve to Close, Turkey Time: Today in Oakdale

Here are five items to take note of today in Oakdale.

Star Party

From a post on the city of Oakdale’s Facebook page:

Join us for the Minnesota Star Party! No, you won't see Justin Timberlake or George Clooney, but WCCO's Mike Lynch will be your host as you observe the great celestial show in the skies over Oakdale using large reflecting telescopes! Thursday, November 21, 7 to 9 pm, Discovery Center, 4444 Hadley. No need to register. This is another one of the Oakdale Recreation Department's "Free Family Fun" events — no autographs, please.

Ellie Goodman

Check out this WCCO story on Oakdale’s Ellie Goodman, who as an infant was diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

Taste of District 622

Residents will be able to sample food and drinks from local restaurants and businesses at the third annual Taste of District 622.

Sponsored by the District 622 Education Foundation and Tartan High School DECA, the event will take place from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, in the Tartan High School cafeteria.

Tickets will be sold at the door and cost $10 for adults and $8 for students (free for children under age 5).

In addition to the food sampling, there will be a silent auction and a “balloon lady” and cookie decorating for kids.

Proceeds benefit the 622 Education Foundation, a nonprofit community group dedicated to raising and distributing funds to support District 622 schools and students.

Also, the Tartan All Night Senior Party Committee will host a vendor fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Turkey Time

From a blog post from the "Kitchen Diva," Barbara Miller:

In our house we live for the turkey leftovers almost more than the turkey dinner itself! My absolute favorite thing in the world is an open-faced turkey sandwich and I only do it once a year because I go all out on it and it happens the day after Thanksgiving. You really don’t need a recipe for it, but I am just going to tell you how I do mine and hope that someone else will enjoy it, so here it goes!

Check out the post for the recipe.

Park Reserve to Close for Deer Management

Lake Elmo Park Reserve will be closed Nov. 9-10 and Nov. 16-17 for a controlled deer management harvest.

The deer herd in the park reserve and the adjacent Sunfish Lake Park has grown to 120, based upon a 2013 aerial survey. Wildlife managers estimate 30 percent of the actual deer population is missed through aerial surveys, which means there could be 156 deer in the park area. The large concentration of deer has caused much browsing destruction to the trees and shrubs in the park and poses a traffic hazard as deer cross the highways.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources recommends that the deer population be kept between 15 to 25 deer per square mile. The recommended deer herd size for Lake Elmo Park Reserve and surrounding areas is 45 to 75.