EDINA

The Edina Art Center's annual sale featuring one-of-a-kind items made by more than 50 regional artists runs through Dec. 23. Items include pottery, jewelry, art kits, ornaments, children's items and more. Decorative baskets, handcrafted recycled gift boxes, wrapping paper and gift tags are available for a donation. The Art Center is at 4701 W. 64th St. and is open 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

WEST METRO

Three Rivers Park District will hold a public hearing on its proposed 2010 budget and property tax levy at 5 p.m. Thursday at the District Administrative Center, 3000 Xenium Lane N., Plymouth.

The district's proposed 2010 property tax levy is $40,965,666. The 2010 levy will provide an additional $568,709 for Park District operations, a 2 percent increase over the 2009 tax levy. The increase covers increased costs for health insurance premiums and the expansion of facilities, including the new Silverwood Park.

The total property tax levy includes the Park District's general fund levy, set at $29,596,069, plus debt service of $11,369,597.

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

CHANHASSEN

The Chaska Valley Family Theatre will present "Little Women -- the Broadway Musical" Nov. 27-Dec. 6 at the new Chanhassen High School auditorium, 2200 Lyman Blvd., Chanhassen.

Performances are scheduled at 7 p.m. on Nov. 27-28 and Dec. 4-5, and at 2 p.m. on Nov. 29 and Dec. 5-6. A lunch matinee is also scheduled for Dec. 4, with lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. and the show beginning at 1 p.m. Tickets for shows are $15 for adults and $10 for students 17 and under, and $20 for the lunch matinee. For tickets, go to www.cvft.org or call 952-250-7206.

WEST METRO

Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners is still seeking sponsors for families in need during the holiday season.

Of the 492 families IOCP is serving, it still needed sponsors for nearly half of them as of last week.

Adopting a family involves buying gifts for each member and wrapping and delivering them in large plastic bags to Redeemer Lutheran Church, 115 Wayzata Blvd. West, Wayzata, on Dec. 11 or 12. Suggested spending per gift is $50.

Anyone who is interested in helping can call 952-516-6061.

EDINA

Edina's tree lighting ceremony is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Nov. 28, capping off a day of music and other events sponsored by the professional association of 50th & France.

Santa will visit with kids from 2 to 5 p.m., and reindeer sleigh rides will be offered from 3 to 5 p.m.

Edina High School's Chamber Singers will perform at 4 p.m., and holiday bags will be given away.

50th & France also will sponsor holidays strolls on Dec. 5, 12 and 19, with Santa visits and reindeer sleigh rides offered from 1 to 3 p.m. on each date.

ST. LOUIS PARK

Community Action Partnership of Suburban Hennepin County awarded a $28,000 grant to St. Louis Park Community Education to help St. Louis Park families with child care and other services while undergoing career training.

The money funds child care for families enrolled in Adult Options In Education's Work Readiness program at Central Community Center. It also funds training, individual counseling and home visits for in-home child-care providers.

Work Readiness classes are being offered to Adult Options in Education English language students, in which adults learn English language skills for employment. While parents take the classes, children are tended in a nearby room.

For more information on these and other services, call 952-988-5343.

EDINA

A sculpture called "Gyr Family Cycle" by Perci Chester is the winner of the Edina Promenade and Grandview Square People's Choice Award.

Walkers and bicyclists using Edina's new Promenade path voted for their favorite sculpture along the path.

Second place went to "Mosaic Chairs" by Fuller Cowles and Constance Mayeron and honorable mention to "Minnesota Echo Turtle" by Kathy Gustafson.

Sculptures are for sale. Visit www.edinapublicart.org for more information.

LAURIE BLAKE,

KEVIN DUCHSCHERE,

HERON MARQUEZ ESTRADA,

MARY JANE SMETANKA

HOPKINS

Stages Theatre will present "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" beginning Friday at the Hopkins Center for the Arts, 1111 Mainstreet, Hopkins.

In the production, adapted from the Christmas classic poem by Clement Moore, playwright Jennifer Kirkeby and composer Shirley Mier team up in an original script that mixes well-known holiday themes that audiences will recognize, plus some surprises.

The show will run through Dec. 28. In conjunction with it, Stages is teaming up with Toys for Tots to collect new, unwrapped toys for children in need.

For information on show times or tickets, call 952-979-1111 or go to www.stagestheatre.org