West metro briefs: Plymouth to cut ribbon on Northwest Greenway recreation trail

A long-planned recreation trail through the woods of Plymouth known as the Northwest Greenway is now long enough to warrant a ribbon cutting.

Plymouth officials plan to celebrate the linking of two segments of the greenway, which is being built in phases, at a June 4 event. About 4 miles of paved trail and boardwalk are now complete, and several more miles have yet to be built.

The greenway is like taking a walk in the woods "in the middle of the city," said Plymouth Parks and Recreation Director Diane Evans.

She said the ribbon cutting will officially open the greenway and "celebrate the vision" of the City Council in creating it.

The city acquired land for many years to make the trail a reality, following a plan crafted in the 1990s. Construction began in 2015.

The greenway now extends east and west in the area south of County Road 47, on either side of Vicksburg Lane. For a complete map of the existing and planned trail route, go to: tinyurl.com/NWGreenway/.

Eric Roper

Trautmann, 36, received 42.9 percent of the ballots cast, or 327 votes. Runner-up Gordon Hanson received 40.2 percent, or 307 votes. Only 763 residents voted, or 10.3 percent of eligible voters.

Trautmann will be sworn into office at the June 13 council meeting and serve through 2020.

"It means a lot to be elected by the neighbors that I've lived with for the last several decades," he said. "I'm excited to serve."

Trautmann, whose Minneapolis law firm represents businesses, nonprofits and entrepreneurs, had never before run for public office.

During the campaign, Trautmann was endorsed by Hennepin County Commissioner and former Richfield Mayor Debbie Goettel, and Council Members Edwina Garcia and Maria Regan Gonzalez.

An Eden Prairie air museum has unveiled a replica of the Spirit of St. Louis, the monoplane piloted by famed aviator Charles Lindbergh in the first solo trans-Atlantic flight in 1927.

The Wings of the North Air Museum received the replica on loan from the Metropolitan Airports Commission, which had suspended the replica plane in the Lindbergh Terminal (Terminal 1) at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

The 90th anniversary of Lindbergh's historic flight was on May 20-21. Lindbergh grew up in Little Falls, Minn.

The Eden Prairie museum, which opened more than a year ago, showcases war and aviation artifacts, including six World War II aircraft. It's open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday. For more details, go to wotn.org/.

KELLY SMITH

Council seats up for election on Nov. 7 include the Second, Third and Fourth district seats and an at-large seat.

Three candidates so far have filed for the at-large seat: incumbent Kim Vlaisavljevich and challengers Nathan Coulter and Michael Arulfo. A primary election for the seat will be held Aug. 8.

Patrick Martin is challenging incumbent Jon Oleson for the Fourth District seat. Incumbents Eldon Spencer (Second District) and Jack Baloga (Third District) have filed for re-election.

Candidate filings close at 5 p.m. Tuesday at the City Clerk's office, 1800 W. Old Shakopee Road. For more information, go to bit.ly/2rUzMS4.

Miguel Otárola

In the five years since the county started the program to teach residents how to repair items rather than trashing them, it's kept more than 26,000 pounds of stuff out of landfills, county officials recently announced. Residents have fixed 3,901 items over the course of 55 monthly Fix-It Clinics.

Nancy Lo, a waste reduction and recycling specialist with the county's environmental services department, started the clinics in 2012. Ramsey County started its own program in July 2015.

East Side Neighborhood Services is at 1700 NE. 2nd St., Minneapolis, and St. Anthony City Hall is at 3301 Silver Lake Road, St. Anthony. For more details or to see a full schedule, go to hennepin.us/fixitclinic/.

KELLY SMITH

A free boat safety course will be held in June for people interested in getting their watercraft operator's permit.

Minnesota requires a permit for youth ages 12 to 17 to operate a boat over 25 horsepower without adult supervision, and for teens ages 14 to 17 to operate a personal watercraft unsupervised.

Adults who receive the permit may also receive discounts on boat insurance.

There is a $22.50 fee to receive the permit, but it will be reimbursed for juveniles. Registration should be done by June 2. For more details, go to lmcd.org/.