MEDINA

Fundraiser planned for Elmore family

A fundraiser for the family of a Brooklyn Park man who drowned Dec. 7 in a snorkeling accident while vacationing in Puerto Rico will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, at the Medina Entertainment Center.

Matthew Elmore, who would have turned 31 on Dec. 8, is survived by his wife, Breanna, and three small sons, Caleb, Anthony and Jackson. Money raised at the event will go to help the family.

Items featured in silent and live auctions will include a 60-inch television, a Strikemaster auger and one week in a Florida beachfront house. There will be entertainment for kids and live music.

For more information or to donate items for the auction or to the fund, e-mail Elmore's sister, Erin Elmore Breen, at erin.elmore@earthlink.net or go to www.elohimito.com/elmore.

Donations also are being accepted at all Wells Fargo Banks. Checks can be made out to "The Matthew Elmore Fund."

WAYZATA

Chilly Open celebrates its 30th year on the ice

Wayzata's frozen Lake Minnetonka golf festival is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.

The Wayzata Chilly Open is expected to draw hundreds of people from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Feb. 8 on Wayzata Bay, which will have a golf course carved out on the ice.

This year's Olympics-themed event, which pegs itself as the largest, most unusual golf tournament held on a frozen lake, is a fundraiser for the Greater Wayzata Area Chamber of Commerce and was started in 1984.

Registration fees are $40 per golfer for the nine holes of golf. The event also features all-you-can-eat chili and live music. To register or get more information, go to wayzatachillyopen.com.

MINNETONKA

Mayor to present state of city address

Minnetonka Mayor Terry Schneider will give the 2014 Minnetonka state of the city address on Feb. 12.

It will take place from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the Minnetonka Community Center, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd.

A continental breakfast will be served. To attend, RSVP by Feb. 3 to ktelega@eminnetonka.com or at 952-939-8211.

Entertainment will abound at kids' fest

The city of Minnetonka will hold Kids' Fest, a free family event, next month.

The event will take place from noon to 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 9. at the Minnetonka Community Center and Ice Arena and the Williston Fitness Center. The event will include dog-sled rides, bingo games with prizes, magic shows, face painting, ice sculpture demonstrations, s'mores by the fire, crafts, entertainment, open swimming, open batting cages, open skating and more.

For a complete schedule, go to www.eminnetonka.com.

Bloomington

Black baseball history in Minnesota is topic

Historian Frank M. White will share stories and photos about the history of black baseball in Minnesota and the Midwest at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 7, at Creekside Community Center, 9801 Penn Av. S. This event will include a special stadium-style meal for lunch.

At 1:30 p.m. that day, the exhibit "They Played for the Love of the Game: Adding to the Legacy of Black Baseball in Minnesota" will go on display at Bloomington Civic Plaza, 1800 W. Old Shakopee Rd. The exhibit will be up through Feb. 27.

Lunch registration is due by Feb. 4 by calling 952-563-4944 or visiting Creekside Community Center.

These Black History Month events are co-sponsored by the Bloomington Human Rights Commission.

Learn about city home-improvement program

Bloomington's Human Services Division will offer a free informational coffee talk on Wednesday, Jan. 29, on what it takes to qualify for the city's Home Improvement Loan Program, which lends up to $35,000 to qualifying homeowners for home improvement.

The talk will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. at Creekside Community Center, 9801 Penn Av. S. Coffee and treats will be provided.

Registration is required by calling 952-563-4944.

More information about the home loan program is at http://bloomingtonmn.gov/cityhall/commiss/hra/cdbg/cdbg.htm?r=us.

Edina

Bullying prevention discussion is on Feb. 8

Families with school-age children are invited to an Edina Reads program that will focus on preventing bullying at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 8, at the Edina Senior Center Fireside Room, 5280 Grandview Square.

Featured will be children's author Nancy Carlson, an Edina native. She will read from her book "Henry and the Bully" and lead a discussion.

The first 75 families will receive a free autographed copy of Carlson's book.

For more information, contact Annie Coyle, city management fellow, at acoyle@ edinamn.gov.

The session is sponsored by the Edina Human Rights and Relations Commission and the Friends of the Edina Library.

Celebrate winter with neighbors on Friday

The seventh annual Winter Neighborhood Night Out will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Friday at 12 Edina parks. Participants are encouraged to plan ­activities, share refreshments and visit with Edina police officers.

Festivities will be take place at:

• Arden Park, 5230 Minnehaha Blvd.

• Cornelia School Park, 7142 Cornelia Dr.

• Creek Valley Park, 6301 Gleason Rd.

• Countryside Park, 6240 Tracy Av.

• Highlands Park, 5200 Doncaster Way.

• Lewis Park, 7300 Cahill Rd.

• Normandale Park, 6501 Warren Av.

• Pamela Park, 4301 W. 58th St.

• Strachauer Park, 6200 Beard Av. S.

• Todd Park, 4429 Vandervork Av.

• Walnut Ridge Park, 5801 Londonderry Rd.

• Weber Park, 4115 Grimes Av. S.

For more information, visit www.edinaparks.com.

Richfield

WWII exhibit show on through February

A traveling exhibit called "Minnesota Homefront, World War II" will be on view at the Richfield Historical Society through Saturday, March 15.

The Minnesota History Center exhibit explores the accomplishments, sacrifices, disappointments and challenges that shaped the legacy of Minnesota's Greatest Generation.

Among the things visitors can learn from the exhibit: what it was like to deal with rationing of products in short supply, to farm during a labor shortage, to work on the Iron Range, to develop war inventions, to be trained as a translator at Fort Snelling and to endure starvation to help science and the war effort.

The Richfield Historical Society, at 6901 Lyndale Ave. S., is open Wednesdays and Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m.

For more information, go to http://www.richfieldhistory.org.

STAFF REPORTS