WAYZATA

The Boulevard Apartments, a former halfway house at 645 Wayzata Blvd., celebrated a grand reopening last week as the latest affordable housing redevelopment project organized by Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners (IOCP).

The apartments will provide homes for six families -- "a new home and a chance for a new future for six families who have struggled with housing stability," said LaDonna Hoy, IOCP executive director. "It is a shining example of what we can do together."

A combination of public funding and volunteer work on the project will allow IOCP to rent four of the units for 20 to 25 percent below market rates -- $831 for the two-bedroom units. The other two units will have significant rent reductions: A two-bedroom will rent for $524 and a one-bedroom for $438. CommonBond Communities will manage the apartment homes, and the six families will move in on Sept. 1.

Total cost for the project was about $960,000, with public funding coming from federal Community Development Block Grant money, Hennepin County Housing and Redevelopment Authority, the Metropolitan Council and Minnesota Housing Finance Agency. Local donors included Presbyterian Homes, Cargill (Black River Asset Management Group), St. Bartholomew Catholic Church, Redeemer Lutheran Church, St. Philip the Deacon Lutheran Church, Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, as well as individual donors.

More than 200 volunteers also helped on tasks ranging from demolition to painting and landscaping.

Zac Hofkes, a 15-year-old sophomore from Orono High School, contributed more than 200 hours in coordinating the construction of a playground behind the apartments as his Eagle Scout service project.

In addition to Boulevard Apartments, IOCP has been involved in developing 61 units of affordable housing since 2001. For more information, go to www.iocp.org.

CHANHASSEN

The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is offering two days of flower shows, family activities and a "walking" play about Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau this weekend during Family Fun Weekend.

Numerous activities are scheduled indoors and out. Here's a sampling:

• A "Nature" walking play at 3 and 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. TigerLion Arts is presenting the play, taking the audience on a journey through the natural world, telling the story of friends Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. "Nature" is a collaborative creation led by local actor Tyson Forbes, a direct descendent of Emerson, whom Forbes portrays. The play is free with Arboretum gate admission.

• Flower, Food and Foto Show by the Minneapolis Men's Garden Club. 12:30-4:30 p.m. Saturday and 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday. An exhibit of flowers, freshly harvested vegetables, photos and floral designs.

• "Open Mic" on the Trex Deck. An "open mic" session from 12:30-3 p.m. Sunday, open to any interested musicians. Performers will be limited to two or three songs and may sign up by e-mailing arbpr@umn.edu or calling 952-443-4401 or 952-443-1459. They also may show up at noon Sunday and sign up for available times.

• Family Fun Activity: Rainbow of good eats. Help harvest and prepare a garden-fresh snack of ripe vegetables and fresh herbs, and discover how putting a rainbow of colorful foods on your plate fuels your body. Noon-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday on a drop-in basis.

The Arboretum, located at 3675 Arboretum Drive in Chanhassen, will offer "two-for-one" gate admission both Saturday and Sunday, which means that two people are admitted for $9 total, or $4.50 for a person entering alone. Admission is free for ages 15 and under.

For more information, go to www.arbor etum.umn.edu or call 952-443-1400.

WAYZATA

Wayzata Community Church's annual Rummage Sale is set for today and Thursday at the church at 125 E. Wayzata Blvd. in Wayzata.

Its 2010 theme is green -- "Recycle, Re-Use, Renew" -- but while the green appeal may be new, that's always been the idea behind the sales that date back nearly a century.

The annual event features thousands of sorted items, from designer clothes and handbags to furs and jewelry. Books, antique furniture, china, glassware, artworks, power tools, bicycles, sporting equipment and similar items also will be available.

Hours are 9 a.m.-8 p.m. today and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday. Prices are reduced the second day.

Proceeds from the sale benefit the community at large: grant programs that give money and merchandise to charitable organizations focusing on the homeless and families and children in need, as well as education and other missions.

The 2009 sale took in a record $197,000.

For more information, go to www.wayzata communitychurch.org/thesale or e-mail rummagesale@wayzatacommunitychurch.org .

MAPLE GROVE

The Second Annual Maple Grove Food Packing Event will take place Aug. 29 at the Maple Grove Community Center, 12951 Weaver Lake Road.

The event is a community-wide effort to raise $54,000 and package 285,000 meals to send to Haiti. About 1,000 volunteers are needed to package the food.

Last year the community raised more than $50,000 to ship 285,000 meals to the Mathare Valley slum in Nairobi, Kenya.

For more information, go to www.mg foodpacking.com.

STAFF REPORTS