Richfield

Organized garbage collection to be discussed Saturday

The League of Women Voters Richfield is sponsoring a Saturday discussion on organized garbage collection as a possible option for Richfield.

The discussion, from 9:30 to 11 a.m., will feature Hennepin County Commissioner Randy Johnson, former Maplewood City Council Member John Nephews and representatives of the city of St. Louis Park, Allied Waste and Burt's Disposal.

The session is in the City Council chambers at Richfield City Hall, 6700 Portland Av. S.

Hopkins

Buy a Brick program deadline approaches

The ordering deadline for the "Buy A Brick" program, which allows donors to honor someone while benefiting the Hopkins Activity Center, is March 31. Individuals, families, groups, businesses and organizations can purchase bricks with their names imprinted on them and they will be placed in the Clock Tower Plaza at the southwest corner of 9th and Mainstreet.

For more information, contact the Hopkins Activity Center at 952-939-1333 or go to www.hopkinsmn.com/news/2009/buy-a-brick.php.

Robbinsdale

Earth Day cleanup at Lower Twin Lake

The Lower Twin Lake Association will host an Earth Day cleanup of the lake on April 20.

The nonprofit will host the cleanup from 10 a.m. to noon at the lake's boat launch located off Bottineau Boulevard. Anyone can help clean the shoreline and launch. Bags will be provided by the city.

For more information, contact Chad Haines at chadmhaines@gmail.com. Residents and businesses can also join as "Friends" of the Lower Twin Lake by contacting Carolyn Guy at guycarolyn@gmail.com.

Excelsior

Annual community Easter egg hunt opens

Children from across the west metro are invited to the 15th annual Community Easter Egg Hunt, which will take place at 10 a.m. March 30.

The free event, hosted by Our Savior Lutheran Church, will take place in the Excelsior Commons Park in Excelsior. Four separate Easter egg hunts will take place for ages 2 and under, ages 3-5, ages 6-8 and ages 9-11. Free prizes include toys, games, bikes and more. A puppet show, food and music will also be included.

For details, go to www.oslcs.org or call 952-474-5181.

EDEN PRAIRIE

SW Transit elects new commissioners

SouthWest Transit will have two new members on its seven-person commission.

Chaska City Council member Jay Rohe and former Chaska Mayor Bob Roepke join the commission in 2013. One elected official and one appointed citizen from each of the agency's three founding cities — Chanhassen, Chaska and Eden Prairie — serve three-year terms. The seventh member is a rider representative who also serves a three-year term and is appointed by the commission members.

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

Bloomington

Writers Festival and Book Fair is Saturday

For the 10th year, authors and aspiring writers will gather Saturday at the Bloomington Center for the Arts, 1800 W. Old Shakopee Road, for a writers festival and book fair.

The day begins at 9:30 a.m. with a keynote address by Tom Hegg, author of the national best-seller "A Cup of Christmas Tea."

Workshops cost $13 each and cover topics including getting started, telling stories, getting published and how to promote yourself.

A free book fair runs from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and more than 30 publishing-related vendors will be present. Preregistration is required for workshops and other sessions. A full schedule and more information is available at www.btacmn.org/4educat/literary.html or by calling 952-563-8575.