West metro town briefs

EDEN PRAIRIE

The runway extension project at Flying Cloud Airport in Eden Prairie has received $2 million of $8.7 million in expected federal funding.

Sen. Norm Coleman welcomed the funding, saying "Reliever airports like Flying Cloud are critically important to the economic development and aviation safety of Minnesota."

The $2 million will pay for site preparations necessary to lengthen the airport's southern parallel runway to 5,000 feet from 3,909 feet. The remaining funds are expected next year. Lengthening the northern parallel runway from  3,599 feet to 3,900 feet began in August and is scheduled to be finished next year.

The 5,000-foot runway will allow more aircraft to take off fully loaded with passengers and cargo, according to the Metropolitan Airports Commission, which operates the airport as part of the area's reliever airport system.

Its construction is scheduled to begin in summer 2009 and be complete in spring 2010. The runway expansion is part of a larger $27 million program to modernize the airport.

Dungeons of Darkness and Doom -- described as an "intensely theatrical" haunted house experience featuring actors "passionately committed to scaring guests beyond your wildest dreams" -- will debut in Eden Prairie Oct. 15 and continue through Halloween.

Tales of the EvilHill family will be depicted during a guided tour of horror-inspired scenes in production by the Main Street School of Performing Arts and the Hopkins area Jaycees.

Dungeons of Darkness and Doom will be open 7 to 10 p.m. Oct. 15-18, 24-25 and 30-31 at Prairieview Center, 968 Prairie Center Drive in Eden Prairie. The center is next to Rainbow Foods at the corner of Hwy. 5 and Prairie Center Drive.

Admission is $10, with $2 off with a canned food donation.

For more information, go to www.evilhill.net or call 952-886-3366.

MINNEAPOLIS

Adults can learn about Frankenstein's monster and see live science theater performances about Mary Shelley, teen author of "Frankenstein," during the "Bakken Evening Out: Monster Mash" from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Bakken Museum, 3537 Zenith Av. S., Minneapolis.

The event will feature a haunted mansion, and wine will be served at this event billed as "electrifying fun for grown-ups."

Admission is $7. For more information, go to www.thebakken.org/events/special.htm.

PLYMOUTH

Hennepin County Library will celebrate the groundbreaking of its new Plymouth Library on Monday. Officials expect the library to open in 2010.

The library will be built where the existing library stands, 15700 36th Av. N. At 30,000 square feet, it will be twice the size.

Demolition of the old building was completed in mid-September, according to a library news release. "Some interior parts were sold to salvage companies and much of the remaining material was recycled," it states. "Currently, the old foundation is being excavated and the site is being prepared for construction."

The public is invited to the groundbreaking, which will occur at 2 p.m.

Parking is available along Plymouth Boulevard, in Cub Food's outer parking lot and at the Plymouth Ice Center.

While the Plymouth Library is closed, patrons can visit other Hennepin County Library locations. For hours and directions, visit www.hclib.org/pub/info/locations.cfm.

ST. LOUIS PARK

The Excelsior and Grand Arts & Craft Fair in St. Louis Park will feature about 30 local artists selling paintings, photography, jewelry, clothing and other items.

The city of St. Louis Park Friends of the Arts is sponsoring the event from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 8 in the clubroom at 3820 Grand Way, St. Louis Park. 

WAYZATA

Taste of a Caring Community is scheduled for 7-9:30 p.m. Oct. 25 at the Wayzata Bay Center, 927 E. Lake St., Wayzata.

The event, "All That Jazz -- for the Kids," will raise scholarship funds for disadvantaged preschoolers to attend programs that prepare them for kindergarten. It will feature live jazz performances and desserts, wine and cheese, and beer from around the world. There also will be 75 silent auction items ranging from a flat-screen TV to a condo in Florida.

Tickets are $75. For reservations, call 763-449-0600 by Oct. 15.

PLYMOUTH

West Lutheran High School's Annual Dinner and Auction will begin at 5 p.m. Saturday at the school at 3350 Harbor Lane, Plymouth.

There will be a buffet dinner at 6 p.m. and a live auction beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at the school, with funds raised to go for tuition assistance for needy students for classroom technology upgrades.

For more information, call 763-509-9378 or go to www.wlhs.net.

BLOOMINGTON

"Great Concerts, Great Causes," a concert series at St. Stephen Lutheran Church in Bloomington, will feature an "All Star Guitar Night" at 6:30 p.m. Sunday to benefit the Feed My Starving Children organization. 

The event will showcase guitarist Pat Donohue, Michael Hauser and the New Roots Duo made up of Dan Schwartz and Ben Woolman. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at St. Stephen, 8400 France Av. S.

St. Stephen also has set a goal of packing at least 100,000 meals for Feed My Starving Children this weekend.

For more information, call 952-831-4746 or go to www.ststephen.net.

EDEN PRAIRIE

The 17th Annual Prairie Colors Marching Band Competition, featuring the field shows of 13 of the best marching bands from the region, will begin at 6 p.m. Saturday at Eden Prairie High School stadium, 17185 Valley View Road, Eden Prairie.

Admission will be $8 for adults and $5 for students and seniors. Children 5 and under are free.

For more information, go to www.edenprairiebpo.org.

HUTCHINSON

The 14th Hutchinson Model Railroad Show, featuring operating model railroads and a flea market of model railroad equipment, memorabilia and publications, is 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the McLeod County Fairgrounds, 780 Century Av. SW., in Hutchinson.

Admission is $3. For more information, call 320-587-7820.

BLOOMINGTON

The Bloomington Art Center's Annual Members' Juried Art Exhibition is scheduled for Oct. 30-Nov. 28 at the center's Inez Greenberg Gallery, 1800 W. Old Shakopee Road in Bloomington. A reception and awards ceremony is set for 6-8 p.m. Oct. 30. Entry deadline is Tuesday.

For more information, go to www.bloomingtonartcenter. com or call 952-563-8570.

BLOOMINGTON

The Federal Duck Stamp Art Exhibition and Competition will be held starting this weekend at the Bloomington Art Center, 1800 W. Old Shakopee Road.

Three hundred to 500 entries from artists around the nation will be on display. Judging will take place Oct. 17 and 18.

For more information, go to www.fws.gov/duckstamps/2008contest.htm.

WAYZATA

In early spring, Wayzata will get more signage -- something business owners there have long called for.

About 50 markers, roughly the size of street signs, will be placed in the Lake Minnetonka city's "downtown," from Superior Boulevard east to Ferndale Road and Wayzata Boulevard south to Lake Street, said Mike Kelly, city engineer.

The signs will direct people to the library, City Hall, Lake Street, the post office, the beach and public parking. They'll even show people the way to Lake Minnetonka.

At a meeting last month, the City Council authorized staff to proceed with construction documents and specifications for the "blade" signs. Most will be placed on existing light poles.

Next up: Signage connecting walking and biking trails, among other things. "We ultimately want to connect everything to everything in town," Kelly said.

The cost of preparing the documents this fall and winter and constructing the signs in early spring is about $60,000.

SOUTHWEST METRO

SouthWest Transit, which provides bus service to Eden Prairie, Chanhassen and Chaska, has been named the 2008 Minnesota Transit System of the Year by the Minnesota Public Transit Association.

Safety, on-time performance, innovation and customer satisfaction all figure into the award. SouthWest also was named Minnesota Transit System of the year in 1999.

JENNA ROSS, MARY JANE SMETANKA, LAURIE BLAKE