Bloomington

Freedom Rider display opens Monday

Marking the 50th anniversary of the passing of the Civil Rights Act, the Bloomington Human Rights Commission is sponsoring the exhibit "Freedom Riders" at Bloomington Civic Plaza from Monday, June 23, to July 6.

Freedom Riders were civil rights activists who rode buses to the South in the early 1960s. The exhibit features photography, news coverage and first-hand audio accounts from activists, the Kennedy administration and the international community.

On Thursday, June 26, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., freedom singer and former Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee leader Bettie Mae Fikes will share reflections on the civil rights movement through storytelling, song and lecture at the Schneider Theater. The event is free, but registration is required.

For more information and to register, contact 952-563-4944, TTY 952-563-4933 or reservations@BloomingtonMN.gov.

CHANHASSEN

Arboretum presents royal plant art exhibit

The "Highgrove Florilegium Exhibit," depicting plants in Prince Charles' garden interpreted in 40 prints by the world's top botanic artists, will open Tuesday, June 24, at the Reedy Gallery at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. It will run through Sept. 1.

The public is invited to the exhibit's grand opening at 5:30 p.m. June 26; reservations are required by June 18 at 952-443-1405.

In related events:

• In conjunction with the Reedy Gallery exhibit, there will be a public display of the Andersen Horticultural Library's rare two-volume "Highgrove Florilegium" book of botanic art. From noon to 2 p.m. June 24 in Reedy Gallery, Kathy Allen, librarian of the Andersen Horticultural Library, will turn pages to display the 124 watercolors in the two volumes. For additional display times, call 952-443-1405.

• From 1 to 2 p.m. on June 25, Allen will deliver a talk, "Mania and Delirium! Plants That Drove People Crazy," exploring plant crazes such as tulipmania, fern fever and orchidelirium, in the Snyder Building Auditorium.

The events are in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of the arboretum's Andersen Horticultural Library and Snyder Building.

Edina

Public input sought for commercial area

The city of Edina kicks off work on a plan for the commercial node at Wooddale Avenue and Valley View Road tonight with a meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the Edina Senior Center, 5280 Grandview Square. Residents and business representatives are encouraged to attend.

At the meeting, attendees will learn about the small area planning process and brainstorm about assets and opportunities in the area. The city is looking for volunteers to serve on a planning team for the area, which has been identified for possible redevelopment.

Small area plans give the city guidance on land use, transportation, housing, environmental protection and natural spaces. It will take six to eight months to develop and approve the plan.

Interested people can volunteer for the planning team by visiting the city's website at www.EdinaMN.gov and can stay informed about the process by signing up for City Extra at the same site. For more information, contact Karen Kurt at 952-826-0415 or e-mail kkurt@EdinaMN.gov.

City seeks opinions on boosting conservation

The June topic for Edina's online discussion site, www.SpeakUp Edina.org, asks residents what they think of financial incentives for water conservation, solar panels and other conservation measures. Questions include: If the city offered a financial incentive for conservation, would residents take advantage of such a program? Why or why not? What type of incentive program would you support? Would low-interest loans, property assessments, rebates or refunds make a difference?

MINNETONKA

Summer festival to be held June 28

Minnetonka's 36th Annual Summer Festival and Burwell House Festival will take place June 28.

The events will take place at the Minnetonka Civic Center Campus, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd. It includes an 8K race and Tot Trot, tours of the Burwell House, an arts and crafts fair, a police K-9 demonstration, fireworks and live music by the Music Association of Minnetonka, Medicine Show Band, Hopkins Westwind Concert Band, Grammy-award winners the Okee Dokee Brothers and Synergy. Additional activities will be held the same day at the Burwell House Festival at 13209 E. McGinty Rd.

For more info, go to www.emin netonka.com or call Recreation Services at 952-939-8203.

Music in the Park will begin June 24

Starting June 24, Minnetonka will host "Music in the Park" on Tuesdays.

The events take place at 7 p.m. on Tuesdays from June 24 to Aug. 12 at the Minnetonka Civic Center's outdoor amphitheater, 14600 Minnetonka Boulevard. Guests can bring a blanket or lawn chair for the free entertainment.

For a schedule of musicians, go to www.eminnetonka.com.

Minnetonka Rotary to hold open house

The Minnetonka Rotary will hold an open house for residents of the Hopkins and Minnetonka communities from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 19, at the Gold Nugget Grille, 14401 Excelsior Blvd., Minnetonka. All who are interested in the service organization are welcome.

Among the projects important to the Minnetonka group are eradicating polio, making clean water available around the world, and helping young people via scholarships and other measures.

One of the Minnetonka Rotary's mottoes is: "The club that's more fun than you want it to be." Says the Rotary's Neal Enzenauer: "If you're wondering, 'Just what the heck does that mean?,' then you need to come to our open house, because all the goodness in the world is worthless if you can't have some fun in the process." For more information, go to www.minnetonkarotary.org.

NEW HOPE

Former SEALs will run kids' leadership camp

Sealed Mindset, a New Hope-based self-defense training facility, is hosting the second annual Victory Games, a four-day camp designed to teach children leadership skills.

The camp is run by former Navy SEALs and teaches children practical skills such as 911 calls, emergency medical skills, archery, martial arts, situational awareness, fitness and firearm safety. The three sessions are June 23-26, July 7-10 and Aug. 4-7. For more information, go to www.sealedmindset.com.

PLYMOUTH

Council member Bob Stein resigns

After 13 years on the Plymouth City Council, Bob Stein is resigning June 30.

Stein has represented the Third Ward, the southeast quadrant of Plymouth, since 2001. He previously served on the city's Planning Commission for four years and the Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority for five years. Stein and his wife plan to move to Chicago to be closer to their children and grandchildren.

Voters will elect a new council member to serve the remaining two years of Stein's term in the Nov. 4 election.

Third Ward residents interested in being on the ballot may file for office July 29 to Aug. 12 at Plymouth City Hall. Candidates must file an affidavit of candidacy and pay a $5 filing fee with the city clerk's office. City Hall is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday.

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