West news briefs: Talk set at arboretum about Japanese gardens book

CHANHASSEN

Japanese gardens are subject of new book

Kendall H. Brown will give a talk about his new book "Quiet Beauty: The Japanese Gardens of North America" at noon Wednesday at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.

The talk will be followed by a guided walk to the arboretum's Japanese garden at 12:30 p.m. Brown will sign books beginning at 11:30 a.m. and again at 1 p.m. after the walk.

His book surveys the history of public Japanese gardens in North America, including a section on the arboretum's Japanese garden.

Brown, a professor of Asian art history at California State University in Long Beach, writes about their styles, stories and status as living markers of American attitudes toward Japan through history.

CORCORAN

A tractor! (Tractor!) Pull! (Pull!)

Need some noise in your Saturday night?

The Corcoran Lions will sponsor a tractor pull at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Corcoran Lions Park near the intersection of County Roads 101 and 10.

The event will feature heavy super stock, two-wheel drive, four-wheel drive, super stock, pro farm vehicles and semis from the National Tractor Pullers Association. Admission is $15 for those 12 years and older, $5 for 4- to 11-year-olds, and free to tots 3 and under.

For more information, go to www.corcoranlions.com.

PLYMOUTH

Pies and books: What could be better?

The Plymouth Senior Program will host its annual Pie Day and Book Sale fundraiser from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Plymouth Creek Center, 14800 34th Av. N.

Freshly baked apple, cherry, strawberry-rhubarb and cream pies will be sold for $5 per slice, with a scoop of ice cream. Items for sale include used books, used scarves and wares created by the Plymouth Handycrafters.

Money raised will help to support senior programs. It will fund supplies, equipment and guest speakers, as well as veteran and senior events and the annual 90-year-old party.

For more information, call the Plymouth Creek Center at 763-509-5280.

Richfield

Mothers and babies fair set for Saturday

Health, wellness and safety for mothers and babies is the theme of the Richfield Mother Baby Fair on Saturday at the Richfield Community Center, 7000 Nicollet Av. S.

The free event runs from 1 to 4 p.m. and features sessions on time management for mothers, car seat safety, breast-feeding and early childhood family education. Free raffle tickets for a photo session, a car seat, an Aveda gift basket and other items will be distributed. There will be a free used-book library and a nurse to answer questions.

Sponsors are the Richfield Human Rights Commission, Family Stability Workgroup and the Richfield Foundation.

Edina

Writing contest celebrates city's anniversary

The Edina Reads Committee is sponsoring a writing contest as part of the city's quasquicentennial celebration.

Entries, including fiction and nonfiction, biography, memoirs and poetry, will be judged on the extent to which they creatively portray Edina's history or community nature.

Works must not be longer than 3,000 words and cannot have been previously published to the general public.

First prize is $500; second prize is $250 and will be awarded to both youth and adult writers. Awards will be presented at an Edina Reads program on Nov. 18. The contest is open to anyone who has lived or attended school in Edina.

For contest rules, go to www.edinareads.org.

Entries must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Oct. 1 to edfoundation@EdinaMN.gov or by hand delivery to the Edina Library information desk. Submissions will not be returned.

CORCORAN

Church to hold big sale

Norman Rockwell plates and other awesome items will be on sale at what church member Alice Anderson described as a "huge" garage sale to be held this week at Immanuel United Methodist Church in Corcoran.

The sale will run from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, and 8 a.m. to noon Friday. Proceeds will go to church missions.

Kitchenware, furniture and other household items, collectibles and sports supplies will be just a few of the things on sale, Anderson said.

The church is at 10025 County Rd. 101, right on the Corcoran-Maple Grove border.

STAFF REPORTS