EXCELSIOR

Brewery seeks to halt invasive species Drink a beer, save a lake.

That's the catchy concept behind a new company started by three longtime friends and Lake Minnetonka residents, tapping into their passion for beer and for keeping Minnesota's lakes free of invasive species.

Jason Landstrom, Ryan Johnson and Chad Mayes launched the Tonka Beer Co. in Excelsior in May, and hope to brew up $10,000 this year to aid efforts slowing the spread of zebra mussels and other species.

As avid anglers, boaters and wilderness canoeists, the partners have had invasive species "on the forefront of our minds," Mayes said. Their new enterprise, he said, is a way of "pairing our interests with the beer industry and the lakes."

He said they'll funnel all of their profits into a nonprofit arm, Save Our Lakes. No benefactor has yet been named, but they hope to fund invasive species prevention efforts by partnering with an agency or conservation district.

Brewed in Wisconsin, the company's Big Island Shandy already has been distributed to 150 stores and restaurants statewide. A second beer, Preservation IPA, is slated to roll out in August.

BLOOMINGTON

Realife Cooperative plans an open house Realife Cooperative of Bloomington, at 9401 Lyndale Av. S., has scheduled an open house from 1-3 p.m. on July 26.

For more information, call 952-346-8900.

PLYMOUTH

Civic league presents music awards The Plymouth Civic League has presented the inaugural Music in Plymouth Awards to Jayne and Al Hilde Jr. and to Curtis A. Carlson and the Carlson Family Foundation.

The award honors an individual or group that has made significant contributions to the success of Music in Plymouth, an annual event that celebrated its 40th anniversary July 3.

Former Plymouth Major Al Hilde Jr. approached Curtis A. Carlson in 1972 to help him plan a free musical event for Plymouth. Hilde formed a committee to bring the Minnesota Orchestra to Plymouth and to organize the Plymouth Civic League. The league today still brings Music in Plymouth to the community.

The Hildes gave the Civic League $1 million to build a band shell for Music in Plymouth and other community events. The Hilde Performance Center was dedicated on the 30th anniversary of Music in Plymouth in 2002.

Curt Carlson and the Carlson Companies have provided continuous leadership on the Plymouth Civic League board of directors for 40 years, as well as financial support.

MINNETONKA

Sports-themed salon opens 10th store Pro-Cuts, a sports-themed hair salon, is opening its 10th Minnesota store in Minnetonka this weekend.

The business, which also has locations in Colorado and New York, will open at 7-High Shopping Center at 4754 County Road 101.

A grand opening will take place on Saturday, with $9 haircuts available from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and a free lunch from noon to 2 p.m. Game highlights will play on HDTVs at each haircutting station.

For more information, call 952-474-4546 or go to www.get aprocut.com.

BROOKLYN CENTER

Wal-Mart opens hiring center Wal-Mart, which will be opening a store in Brooklyn Center as part of the Shingle Creek Crossing project, has opened a hiring center in the city. The retailer says it will hire about 300 workers, full- and part-time, for jobs in all areas of the store, including supervisory positions.

The hiring center, at 1200 Shingle Creek Crossing, is open and will accept applications from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Prospective employees also can apply online at www.careers.walmart.com.

Wal-Mart said the majority of employees will start work in August as the store prepares for its grand opening later this summer.

GOLDEN VALLEY

Human rights task force begins work Nineteen members of a task force to assess the need for a Human Rights Commission have started work and will hold public meetings on Aug. 9, 20 and 29 from 6 to 9 p.m. in the City Hall council chambers.

The group is charged with reviewing the duties and responsibilities of such commissions, recommending the best ways to foster inclusiveness and cultural awareness in the city and, if a commission is recommended, to set the mission and duties of that group. Task force recommendations are due before Oct. 31.

Golden Valley had one of the state's oldest human rights commissions but disbanded the group late last year after a clash with the City Council over the group's reach.

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