BLOOMINGTON

Kite Day is celebration of kites and other joys

Spend Saturday at Kite Day on May 17 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Valley View Playfields, 90th Street and Portland Avenue. Free kites will be given to kids under 18 while supplies last.

Kid Power with Rachael, Bob and the Beachcombers and the Creekside Crickets will provide entertainment. Other events include Minnesota Kite Society races with large kites called "Bols," a kids-build-it workshop with Home Depot, tours of Bloomington police and fire vehicles and the annual kite-flying contest.

Prizes will be awarded for highest-flying and most unusual kites and youngest kite flyer. For more information, call Bloomington Human Services at 952-563-8733 or go to www.ci.bloomington.mn.us.

EDINA

Kids to Parks Day salutes joy of outdoors

Edina will mark National Kids to Parks Day on Saturday, May 17, with free outdoor events at Rosland Park, 4300 W. 66th St. The goal is to pull kids away from screens and into the outdoors.

From 10 a.m. to noon, kids can meet chickens and other animals, take a digital camera art challenge, try archery and slacklining and fish off the Lake Cornelia pier.

The event is co-sponsored by Three Rivers Park District, Fairview Southdale Hospital, Hoigaard's and Cool Planet. For a full list of events, go to www.edinamn.gov.

Neighborhood session set for Saturday

Edina, which now has designated neighborhoods, will hold its second annual neighborhood workshop Saturday, May 17, for residents interested in starting a city-recognized neighborhood association.

From 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., residents will learn the basics of the city's neighborhood association policy, recognition process and online communication tools, and how to start organizing your neighborhood.

From 10:45 to 11:30 a.m., neighborhood organization will be discussed in an open forum with city staff.

The workshop is at the Edina Senior Center, 5280 Grandview Square. To attend, RSVP at neighborhoods@edinamn.gov or 952-826-0360. For more information, visit www.edina mn.gov/neighborhoods.

EXCELSIOR

Fitness event is bow to vets, Memorial Day

Twin Cities fitness enthusiasts are invited to participate in the "Memorial Day Murph," a fundraiser to benefit the Lone Survivor Foundation on Monday, May 26, in Excelsior.

Registration closes May 14 for the event hosted by local businesses CrossFit SISU, Sealed Mindset and Origin Meals. The event will take place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Memorial Day at Excelsior Commons Park and includes food, beer, an Army rock climbing wall and live DJ. All proceeds will go to Lone Survivor Foundation.

A team of former U.S. Navy SEALs will parachute into the park and participants can complete the "Murph," a workout that traditionally consists of a one-mile run, 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, 300 squats followed by another one-mile run while wearing a 40-pound pack.

The event is in memory of Navy Lt. Michael Murphy, 29, of Patchogue, N.Y., who was killed in Afghanistan 2005.

To register or get more information, go to www.memorial daymurphexcelsior.com.

GOLDEN VALLEY

Bottineau light-rail meeting is Thursday

Two Golden Valley city commissions will hold a public hearing on Thursday, May 15, to hear comments on the Bottineau light-rail draft environmental impact statement. The meeting is at 7 p.m. at Golden Valley City Hall, 7800 Golden Valley Rd.

The environmental statement documents the purpose and need for the project, the alternatives considered, the anticipated impacts of the line, and defines mitigation measures.

The meeting will include discussion on a recommendation to the Golden Valley City Council on the environmental impact statement. Residents also can submit comments to planning@goldenvalleymn.gov or written comments to Planning Department, 7800 Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley, MN 55427.

Questions can be directed to Jason Zimmerman at 763-593-8099.

For more information about the light rail proposal, go to http://bottineautransitway.org/index.html.

MINNETONKA

City hosts spring bird walk on Saturday

The city of Minnetonka will host a spring bird walk from 8:30 to 11 a.m. May 17.

It will take place at Lone Lake Park, 5624 Shady Oak Rd. in Minnetonka. The event is open to birders of all skills and ages, and participants are asked to bring binoculars and a field guide, if possible, and dress for the weather.

Register at www.eminne tonka.com or call 952-988-8400.

PLYMOUTH

City is recruiting paid on-call firefighters

The Plymouth Fire Department is looking to hire paid on-call firefighters and will hold recruitment meetings this month.

The meetings will take place from 9 a.m. to noon May 17 and June 14 at Fire Station No. 3, 3300 Dunkirk Lane.

The meetings will provide information about the role of a paid-on-call firefighter, which is a part-time job that offers hourly wages and a chance to qualify for a pension.

Extensive training is provided.

For more information, go to www.plymouthmn.gov/become-firefighter or call the Plymouth Fire Department at 763-509-5120.

Interfaith Outreach gets new directors

The Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners in Plymouth has a new board of directors for the 2014-2015 year.

The new board directors are Tom Hektner, Paul Koch, Bill Munsell, Janet Sparkman and Carol Wexler.

Also serving on the board are Mason Allison, Ellie Bathe, Sue Bode, Jane Brattain, Andy Brehm, Jeannie Buckner, Tom Burke, Joan Floren, Beth Flynn, Laura Good, Lynn Groll, Denis Harrington, Babs Koch, Gary Lasche, Tom Shaver, Sue Strom, Tom VanDerHeyden, Martha Van de Ven, Janette Walker, Chris Wolohan and ex officio board members, the Rev. Shane Isner, the Rev. Lindy Purdy and LaDonna Hoy.

New board members are elected each year at the organization's annual meeting of all its stakeholders and serve two three-year terms.

Heart Healthy 5K to be held on Saturday

The annual Heart Healthy 5k Run/Walk will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 17, at the Hilde Performance Center in Plymouth.

The race will begin and end at the Hilde Amphitheater, 3450 Plymouth Blvd., and is open to all runners and walkers. Cost for preregistration is $20 per person and $25 on race day, starting at 8 a.m.

Admission is free for children ages 9 and younger.

To register online, go to www.active.com and search for "Heart Healthy."

Richfield

City garage sale is Thursday to Saturday

More than 100 garage sales are featured in Richfield's 23rd annual City Wide Garage Sale on Thursday, May 15, through Saturday, May 17.

Free sales maps with lists of items that are for sale at registered addresses are available at the Richfield Community Center, 7000 Nicollet Av. S., municipal liquor stores, and online at www.richfieldrecreation.com. For more information, call 612-861-9363.

HENNEPIN COUNTY

County collecting hazardous waste

Hennepin County and the cities of Minnetonka and St. Louis Park will hold collection sites for residents to safely dispose of unwanted garden and household hazardous waste.

From May 15 to 17, the county will hold a collection from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Minnetonka Public Works, 11522 Minnetonka Blvd. It will then hold a collection site in St. Louis Park June 12 to 14 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at St. Louis Park Junior High School, 2025 Texas Av. S.

The collection sites are open to any Hennepin County resident. Lawn and garden products, items containing mercury, and fuel wastes are among the hazardous waste accepted; business waste and electronics will not be accepted.

Hennepin County also provides residents with drop-off facilities open year-round at 1400 W. 96th St., Bloomington and 8100 Jefferson Hwy., Brooklyn Park. For more information, call 612-348-3777 or go to www.hennepin.us/collec tionevents.

STAFF REPORTS