Mendota Heights Patch Week in Review Jan. 23-Jan. 29

Last week started off on a lighter note with a photo gallery of the at Dodge Nature Center. Over three hundred Minnesotans braved the cold for some snowy playtime including turkey bowling, snowshoeing and pickup hockey.

Patch also had the story of a Henry Sibley graduate who landed a gig as the touring videographer for

Have you heard about our new project? We're inviting mothers of all backgrounds to participate in our (It's not too late to get involved, email danielle.cabot@patch.com).

On Monday, we brought you the second installment of our with a recap of the bill introductions by Rep. Rick Hansen(D-District 39A) and Sen. James Metzen (D-District 39).

Also on Monday, we brought you the story of a St. Thomas Academy student's to ensure that students from a Minneapolis elementary school have school supplies. In return, the elementary school kids, along with Visitation students, helped package up Valentines for deployed troops.

In city news, plenty of applicants threw their name in the ring for seven in Mendota Heights. We also brought you the story of how mounting vacation time is likely to result in a to city employees.

Two teachers from the West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan School District were nominated for , and Patch talked to both of them about what makes their classrooms special.

In other school news, we sat down for a Q&A with the of District 197, who is overseeing the transition of three schools into magnet programs with the help of a federal grant.

A photo gallery showcased the of fifth-graders.

In sports, Henry Sibley boys hoops lost against Maranatha Christian Academy in the .

Warriors girls basketball on Tuesday. Both and basketball lost to Richfield on Friday night.