CARVER COUNTY

Applications open for watercraft inspectors

The city of Chanhassen is accepting applications for watercraft inspectors.

The city owns and operates three public boat launches at Lake Ann, Lake Susan and Lake Lotus, staffed with watercraft inspectors to check for aquatic invasive species. In 2015, Carver County will be the hiring and program administration agent for the city's program. To apply, go to bit.ly/1aZO5vS.

CHASKA

Police host senior expo April 23

The Chaska Police Department and its senior focus group will host their second annual Senior Expo on April 23.

The event, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Chaska Community Center, will includes a free lunch, experts and resource tables on topics such as chronic diseases, financial will/trusts, directives and power of attorney, frauds and scams, and transportation options for seniors. RSVP by April 15 to Officer Julie Janke at 952-448-4200 or jjanke@chaskamn.com.

DAYTON

Nature center hosts bird-banding event

Three Rivers Parks will host an event March 28 where people can watch biologists study age, migration and populations of wild birds, safety trapping, studying and banding the birds before they are safely released.

The free program, which is open to all ages, will take place from 9 a.m. to noon March 28 at Eastman Nature Center in Elm Creek Park Reserve. For more information, go to threeriversparks.org/events/B/bird-banding-at-eastman.aspx.

Kevin Pearce

EDEN PRAIRIE

Figure skating club presents ice show

The Eden Prairie Figure Skating Club will present an ice show, the "Wicked Wizard of Oz," March 20 to 22 at the Eden Prairie Community Center.

The skating club, which has nearly 100 members, puts on the ice show to allow children and teens a chance to exhibit their skating skills. It also includes solos by Abby Boedigheimer, Kristina Briant, Madison Fisher, Libby Isaacson, Hailey Kauls, Brooke Ramlo, Amelia Thoreson and Amy Wang.

This year's performances will take place at 7 p.m. March 20, 5 p.m. March 21 and 2 p.m. March 22. Tickets went on sale March 17 from the Eden Prairie Community Center.

EDINA

Speech to benefit LoveYourBrain

Former pro snowboarder Kevin Pearce, who suffered a traumatic brain injury while training for the Olympics in Utah in 2009, will speak about his injury and the work of his foundation, LoveYourBrain, at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 9, at Edina High School, 6754 Valley View Road

The event will include a viewing of the 2013 HBO documentary film "The Crash Reel: The Fall and Rise of Snowboarder Kevin Pearce," which won an Emmy for Outstanding Informational Program.

Pearce is the son of glass artist Simon Pearce, whose work is featured at the Ampersand Shop in Edina.

Adult tickets are $40, $20 of which will go to the LoveYourBrain Foundation and $20 of which is redeemable to purchase a Simon Pearce product at Ampersand. Student tickets are $10, fully donated to LoveYourBrain. Tickets can be purchased online at AmpersandShops.com and the Ampersand Shop located at the Galleria, 3445 W. 70th St.

Southdale offers 'Caring Bunny'

Southdale is ensuring that families with special-needs children can visit the Easter bunny. The Caring Bunny will cater to these families before mall hours on Sunday, March 29 from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. by creating a comforting environment for children. This unique experience includes dimming lights, stopping escalators, offering activities during the "wait" period and eliminating long lines with a reservation system. To make Caring Bunny reservations, visit http://bit.ly/18fQdy7.

EXCELSIOR

Church holds annual Easter egg hunt

Our Savior Lutheran Church and School will hold its annual community Easter egg hunt April 4 — the west metro's largest such event, with more than 16,000 plastic eggs filled with candy.

The event, which is free, will take place from 9:30 to 11 a.m. in Excelsior's Commons Park at 201 Lake St. The event will include booths and stages for free hot food and beverages, puppet shows by First Light Puppets, Sparky the Fire Dog, tours and photo opportunities with the Excelsior Fire Department truck, a petting area for bunnies, prize giveaways and Easter egg hunts. For more information, go to oslcs.org or call 952-474-5181.

MINNETONKA

Champps promotes Wiggle Your Toes

Champps in Minnetonka will host a benefit for the nonprofit Wiggle Your Toes on March 24.

The event will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. and include free sampling of entrees and drink specials. The restaurant, at 1641 Plymouth Road, also will donate 10 percent of all sales all day to Wiggle Your Toes, a Bloomington organization that supports amputees.

For more information, go to wiggleyourtoes.org.

ORONO

Trails of Orono plans pancake breakfast

Trails of Orono Assisted Living and Memory Care will host a pancake breakfast from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., Saturday, to benefit Hope Chest, a Twin Cities nonprofit that supports people affected by breast cancer.

The breakfast will be held at Trails of Orono, 875 Wayzata Blvd. W. A minimum donation of $3 is requested. To RSVP, call 952-473-6655.

Hope Chest, which helps local, financially challenged breast cancer patients, will also have its truck on-site at Trails of Orono for those wishing to donate gently used household items, furniture and clothing. Mattresses, electronics or entertainment centers will not be accepted.

ROBBINSDALE

Prostate cancer group will meet March 25

A prostate cancer support group will meet from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 25, at North Memorial Medical Center, 3300 Oakdale Av. N., Robbinsdale. Andrew Ruppert, a radiologist at North Memorial, will discuss what imaging tests are used to detect where prostate cancer may lie within the body. The meeting will take place in the Vance DeMong classroom in the main hospital building.

There is no charge, parking is available in the hospital ramp and families and friends are welcome to attend. For further information, call 612-388-3588.

WAYZATA

Rebecca Kill to speak at prayer breakfast

Tickets are on sale for the annual Community Prayer Breakfast in Wayzata, which will feature this year a keynote by Rebecca Kill, the wife of University of Minnesota head football coach Jerry Kill.

The event, which will take place from 7:15 a.m.-8:45 a.m. April 23 at the Wayzata Country Club, is open to all and features breakfast, music, a liturgy read by local clergy and Kill's keynote, "Growing in Faith — One Yard at a Time."

The event, started in 1991, is held each spring and fall. Tickets cost $20, with all proceeds going to Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners. To reserve a spot, go to iocp.ejoinme.org/SpringPrayerBreakfast2015.

STAFF REPORTS