Education & Community

Thousands of White Bear Lake Magazine readers have voted for their favorite people, places and services in an online readers' survey. For the second time ever, we will bring together the top three finalists from each of the featured categories from our community in a celebration, and we'll present awards to those who received the most votes. Read more about 2014 Best of White Bear Lake Celebration

The White Bear Center for the Arts sponsors WriteNow!, an annual contest for high school creative writers, and it’s time to give the winners the recognition they deserve. The winning students will receive their awards and give readings of their poetry, essays, short stories and one-act plays at this literary event celebrating the talent of White Bear and Mahtomedi youth. 651.407.0597. Read more about Write Now! Awards Ceremony and Reading

Learn about all the ways to conserve energy and keep the area environmentally friendly at Mahtomedi’s eighth annual RITE (Really Into the Earth) of Spring event. Organizations, including the Mahtomedi Green Initiative and the Rice Creek Watershed District, will have tables featuring information on everything from recycling to planting rain gardens, so head over and go green. 651.426.3344. Read more about RITE of Spring

Help kids discover the joy of curling up with a good book. This monthly book club at the Wildwood Branch Library features a new book every month catered to third- and fourth-grade kids. Registration required. 651.426.2042. Read more about Kids’ Book Club

How do today’s trends affect the Mahtomedi area? What can we do to shape a bright future in the face of change? TEDxMahtomedi will explore those questions and more through brief presentations by community members and discussions in the spirit of the world-famous TED talks; this year’s theme is “What  Next?” Coffee at 9 a.m., event begins at 10 a.m. Read more about TEDxMahtomedi

If the Internet is a mystery to you, consider this class to be your private eye. The Science Museum of Minnesota Computer Education Center runs this introductory Internet course at the Wildwood Branch library to help those unfamiliar with the world wide web understand what it has to offer. Come with lots of patience and be ready to learn. 651.426.2042. Read more about Internet Introduction

If you have some computer experience but want to improve your basic skills to make desk time more efficient, this is the course for you. Presented by the Science Museum of Minnesota Computer Education Center, this class is designed for Windows users and will teach tips and shortcuts to help save time when you’re sitting in front of the computer screen. 651.426.2042. Read more about Essential Computer Skills

If you find yourself without an indoor project to keep you from getting cabin fever, stop by Lila and Claudine’s Yarn & Gifts. The Knitting Room is open on weekends for knitters to sit, knit and chat, so you can get a jump on your next piece while you make new friends or catch up with old ones. You may even end up with a cozy sweater at the end. 10 a.m. Saturdays, 12 p.m. Sundays. 651.429.9551. Read more about Open Knitting

Need to brush up on your computer skills? Let the great people at White Bear Lake Library help you out. You can learn how to surf the Internet, set up an email account, get help working on a document or ask any questions that you want answered. One-to-one instruction is provided with no appointment necessary, and all ages are welcome. 651.724.6007. Read more about One-to-One Computer Help

Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean you have to put your golf skills on ice. This official St. Paul Winter Carnival event raises money for the White Bear Area Emergency Food Shelf. 651.223.4700. Read more about BEAR'ly Open