MINNETONKA

Groveland Elementary School will host a holiday art fair Friday and Saturday at the school, 17310 Minnetonka Blvd., Minnetonka.

Artwork and crafts created by students, parents and community members will be sold, with a portion of every sale benefiting the Groveland Green, Fit, Fun Playground.

Part of the playground, which is designed for better access for kids of all abilities, was installed over the summer, but fundraising will go toward a second phase scheduled for next summer.

Hours are 6-9 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday. Friday night will be a preview session, with food and fresh cider served, and there will be an admission fee of $5 on that night. Admission Saturday will be free.

Using "green screen" technology, fans of the Alex Rider teen spy series will get a chance to be part of a "Be Alex Rider! Green Screen Photo Adventure" from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday at Hennepin County's Ridgedale Library, 12601 Ridgedale Drive, Minnetonka.

In celebration of the newest Alex Rider novel, "Crocodile Tears," which has just been released, Penguin Young Readers Group is giving kids a chance to literally picture themselves in a scene from the novel. The event is free.

Rider is a fictitious 14-year-old British spy trying to foil a villain who intends to release a virus that can destroy an entire country.

In the library program, kids grade 4 and up will be photographed with a green screen in the background, and when they go home they will be able to use a "secret code" to download their image on a computer, complete with a background image from a scene from Alex Rider.

Author Anthony Horowitz's 2005 Alex Rider novel, "Ark Angel," was named the British Book Awards Children's Book of the Year.

For more information on the event, call 952-847-8800.

EDINA

Students who want to take the SAT or ACT during grades 6-9 as part of the Midwest Academic Talent Search in January and February can learn more about the program Dec. 19.

During a three-hour session at Edina Community Center, students will be introduced to a "game strategy" approach to taking the exams. The basics of SAT and ACT testing will be explained, along with strategies.

The program, from 9 a.m.-12 noon, will take place in the Edina Community Center Room 351, 5701 Normandale Road, Edina. Cost is $25, with a $5 discount if registered by Friday. One parent is welcome to attend free with each student, but enrollment is limited.

For more information go to www.ecae.net.

STAFF REPORTS