West metro town briefs

HENNEPIN COUNTY

Donations are needed for Hennepin County's program to provide holiday gifts to low-income elderly and disabled people, veterans and families who are receiving county assistance.

Last year, more than 2,000 people were served by the gift program Giving Partners, but this year donations are falling short of the demand, according to Linda Bloomgren of the Hennepin Volunteer and Community Partnership Program.

Donors can give money, discount or grocery store gift cards, or sponsor a client or a family. To learn more, call 612-348-7601 or send an e-mail to Dianne.Szach @co.hennepin.mn.us.

Gift card or monetary contributions can be made out to the Hennepin County Special Gift Fund and sent to VCPP-Giving Partners Holiday Program, A-1600, Government Center, 300 S. 6th St., Minneapolis, MN 55487-0160. All donations are tax deductible, and receipts will be issued on request.

The Hennepin County Board has approved an agreement with Three Rivers Park District for the county's Sentencing to Service crews to build six camper cabins for the park system.

The program allows people who have been convicted of crimes to complete court-ordered sentences by participating in community maintenance and service projects.

Crews will build 300-square-foot log cabins with porches that are wired for light and heat.

Four of the cabins will be at Baker Park Reserve. Two will be at Elm Creek Park Reserve.

MINNEAPOLIS

The architectural history of three Minneapolis bridges will be investigated for repair and restoration under an agreement between Hennepin County and the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

Built in the early 20th century, the bridges are located between Lake of the Isles and Lake Calhoun along the former Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad right-of-way, and are eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.

The county is contributing about $10,800 to the project, which will study the bridges' original design, their alteration, materials and construction techniques, and their character-defining features that will guide proposed repairs.

Calvary Baptist Church is turning its fifth annual Christmas concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday into a benefit to help raise money for Gabriel Rodreick, a 16-year-old Minneapolis high school junior who was paralyzed in an accident while on a foreign exchange trip this past summer in Costa Rica.

All proceeds will go toward assisting with Gabe's rehabilitation efforts.

Calvary Baptist Church's pastor, the Rev. Jeff Cowmeadow, said "Gabe has been a part of the church his whole life and is a real leader in church youth groups. He's a smart, tough kid. Gabe is tenacious and determined." Through intense therapy, Gabe reportedly has regained some feeling and movement in his legs and arms.

The concert will be held at the church, at 2608 Blaisdell Av. S., Minneapolis. Donations also may be made by mail; indicate they are for the Gabe Rodreick Fund.

For more information on Gabe's progress, go to www.caringbridge.org/visit/gabrielrodreick.

EDEN PRAIRIE

The ClayBodies & Friends annual holiday pottery sale to benefit Chrestomathy in Eden Prairie is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Chrestomathy Inc. of Eden Prairie, 7465 Eden Prairie Road.

Chrestomathy Inc. is a not-for-profit day care organization for people with special needs. ClayBodies & Friends is a group of local pottery artists who will offer a variety of ceramic art for sale. Ten percent of all pottery sales will be donated to Chrestomathy.

For more information on Chrestomathy, go to www. chrestomathyinc.org.

BLOOMINGTON

The Bloomington Art Center will present "Wings, Words and Wires," an exhibition by artist Erik Pearson, Dec. 12-Jan. 11 at the center, 1800 W. Old Shakopee Road, Bloomington.

Pearson, who designed and painted the mural on the northeast corner of the arts center, will be on hand for an artist's reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 12.

Gallery hours are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 10 p.m. Sunday.

For more information, call 952-563-8587 or go to www. bloomingtonartcenter.com.

The Bloomington Art Center's Thursday Musical Concert will feature soprano Judy Olson, pianist Susan Hellerud and others at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the center, 1800 W. Old Shakopee.

Tickets are $10 at the door. Season tickets also are available for $60, or $50 for seniors.

For more information, call 612-333-0313 or go to www. thursdaymusical.com.

The 50-member Bloomington Chorale will present holiday concerts at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday at the Bloomington Art Center's Schneider Theater, 1800 W. Old Shakopee Road, Bloomington.

Christmas selections will include Handel's Messiah as well as popular songs such as "Sleigh Bells," "I Wonder As I Wander" and "The Night Before Christmas."

The chorale will be collecting nonperishable food items for the VEAP emergency food shelf. Items especially needed include pasta, boxed dinners, tuna, diapers, canned baby food, toilet paper, shampoo, laundry soap and paper grocery bags.

Tickets are $14 for adults and $10 for students and seniors 62 and older. Call 952-563-8575 or go to www.bloomington chorale.com.

ROCKFORD

For the first time in 15 years, Lake Rebecca Park Reserve in Rockford will be open this winter.

The Three Rivers Park District board has endorsed a plan to keep Lake Rebecca open in response to public demand for more winter activities in parks.

Park visitors will be able to hike, snowshoe, cross-country ski, ice fish and ride horses at the park reserve.

Lake Rebecca was closed to winter operations in 1993 so staff could be allocated to other facilities, such as Elm Creek and Hyland Lake park reserves.

During the upcoming winter season, operations at Lake Rebecca will be similar to those at Crow-Hassan Park Reserve and Fish Lake and Bryant Lake regional parks, where cross-country ski trails are open for use but are not groomed by maintenance staff, the district said.

For more information, call 763-559-9000 or go to www. threeriversparks.org.

EDINA

A Holiday home tour featuring three homes in West Edina is set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Tours will begin at Edina City Hall, 4801 W. 50th St.

Voluntary contributions will be accepted, with proceeds going to the Van Valkenburg Children's Fund. For more information call 952-833-9573 or go to www.edina communityfoundation.org.

CHANHASSEN

"Capturing Nature's Beauty: Two Artists Inspired by the Arboretum," an exhibit of paintings by artists Carol McIntyre and Karen Knutson, is on display at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chanhassen through Jan. 4.

Knutson, of Eden Prairie, and McIntyre, formerly of St. Louis Park, have created scenes from the Arboretum -- in some cases very different interpretations of the same scene. The exhibit, cosponsored by the Edina Art Center, illustrates how two sets of creative eyes can see the same landscapes so differently.

McIntyre presents a realistic perspective, while Knutson offers a more abstract interpretation, the Arboretum notes.

MARY JANE SMETANKA, LAURIE BLAKE

"Be Inspired, A Holiday Concert for the Community," presented by the South Lake-Excelsior Chamber of Commerce, is scheduled for 4-5:30 p.m. Saturday at the Excelsior Elementary School auditorium, 441 Oak St., Excelsior.

The Twin Cities Community Gospel Choir, the Minnetonka High School Chamber Choir and members of the cast of "Scrooge, the Musical" from Minnetonka Community Theatre will be among those performing. Actor Jim Cada also will read "The Night Before Christmas."

Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students in advance, or $10 and $6 at the door. Children 3 and under will be admitted free.

Tickets are available in advance at downtown Excelsior businesses or by calling the chamber at 952-474-6461.