HENNEPIN COUNTY

The Hennepin County Board is seeking applicants for a vacancy on the Riley-Purgatory-Bluff Creek Watershed District Board, which coordinates management of water and related land resources around Riley, Purgatory and Bluff creeks in southwest Hennepin and northeast Carver counties.

A member may not be a public officer of the county, state or federal government and must be a resident of the district, which in Hennepin County includes portions of Bloomington, Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, Deephaven and Shorewood. Members serve three-year terms.

The deadline for applications is July 30, with interviews to be held at the General Government Committee meeting Aug. 4. For more information or to receive an application, contact Yolanda McCrary by phone at 612-348-3257 or by mail at A2400 Government Center, 300 S. 6th St., Minneapolis MN 55487.

Applications also are available on the county website at www.hennepin.us.

BLOOMINGTON

The Bloomington Housing and Redevelopment Authority is hosting free seminars on sustainable home improvements.

Remaining sessions are:

• Aug. 27, on stimulus tax incentives for energy conservation.

• Sept. 17, dealing with household water conservation inside and outside the home.

Both sessions are planned for 7 p.m. at the Rehearsal Hall at Bloomington Civic Plaza, 1800 W. Old Shakopee Road.

For more information, contact Tom Holman at 952-563-8941 or tholman@ci.bloomington.mn.us.

HENNEPIN COUNTY

The Hennepin County Board has approved the schematic design, budget and expansion and renovation plans for the Northeast Library at 2200 Central Av. NE. in Minneapolis.

The new facility will add 2,407 square feet to the 14,500-square-foot building and renovate the main level to provide more space for collections, technology and accessibility. New mechanical and electrical systems will be installed.

The library, which opened in 1973, was built to replace the original 1915 Carnegie Library. The project is scheduled to begin this fall and be completed in 2010. The library will reopen in early 2011.

HENNEPIN COUNTY

The Hennepin County Board has approved plans to implement a Complete Streets policy as part of its Active Living Hennepin Communities initiative.

The initiative is an attempt to encourage residents to integrate physical activity into their daily routines through pursuits such as biking, walking and using transit.

It emphasizes development of roads, trails and transit systems that can be safely used by walkers, bikers and transit riders of all ages and abilities, as well as commercial and emergency vehicles.

Involved in the program are the cities of Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Excelsior, Golden Valley, Hopkins, Independence and St. Louis Park, as well as organizations such as ATS&R, McGough Companies, the Metropolitan Council, the Minnesota Department of Transportation, the Three Rivers Park District, and Transit for Livable Communities.

HOPKINS

Hopkins' 2009 Music in the Park series continues Thursday with the Teddy Bear Band/Resistors at 7 p.m.

Other upcoming concerts include the Brio Brass at 7 p.m. July 30, and the Twin Cities Seven at 7 p.m. Aug. 6.

The location in event of rain will be the Hopkins Activity Center at 33 14th Av. N.

For more information, call 952-908-1144 or go to www.thinkhopkins.com.

CHANHASSEN

The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is offering a wide range of summer activities for all ages. Here's a sampling:

• Prairie Summer Wildflower Walks, set for 10:30-11:30 a.m. on Saturday as well as on Aug. 22. One-hour leisurely rambles around the Arboretum focusing on what's in bloom and the stories behind the plants. Meet at Prairie Garden Parking Lot. $10 per person.

• Jazz on the Prairie Big Band, 1:30-3 p.m. Saturday.

• H20 on the Go! A family-fun program continuing throughout July on Saturdays and Sundays.

• Botanical Latin. A class on the naming of plants, 10 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. Saturday, $30 for members, $40 for nonmembers of the Arboretum.

Other events and classes are going on every day at the Arboretum. For more information, go to www.arboretum.umn.edu.

MARY JANE SMETANKA,

STAFF REPORTS