West metro news briefs: DFL plans fall feast at Eden Wood

The Senate District 48 DFL Fall Feast will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Eden Wood Conference Center and Retreat, 6350 Indian Chief Road, Eden Prairie.

The organizers expect elected officials, candidates and supporters to attend, and there will be a buffet with appetizers, pork loin and Southern sides, chicken breasts and vege­tarian lasagna, plus a cash bar. The event also will include a silent auction.

Suggested donations are $15 per adult, $40 per family of up to five people, $5 per child ages 3-12 and free for children under age 3. For more information or to RSVP, go to www.dfl48.org.

Rep. Pat Garofalo, R-Farmington, will be the guest speaker at the Republican Seniors of Minnesota luncheon meeting on Tuesday. He will discuss state education policy and funding.

The Republican Seniors meet the first Tuesday of each month at Poor Richard's Commonhouse, 8301 Normandale Blvd., Bloomington. The meeting will begin at 10 a.m. with a business session and coffee, followed by a guest speaker. Lunch is at noon. There is a minimum charge of $3 for members and guests not ordering lunch.

For more information, call 952-828-1943 or e-mail repsen iorsmn@gmail.com.

The 16th-annual Plymouth on Parade will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday with an 11:30 a.m. parade followed by entertainment and family activities from 1 to 3 p.m.

Free family activities will be offered from 1 to 3 p.m. As part of Plymouth on Parade, a firefighter 5K run/walk will begin at 9 a.m. at Fire Station II, 12000 Old Rockford Road. A kids' fun run will be held at 10 a.m. For more information, call 763-509-5200.

The Plymouth Fire Department will hold its ninth annual Firefighter 5K run/walk at 9 a.m. Saturday beginning at Fire Station II, 12000 Old Rockford Road A half- or full-mile kids' fun run will take place at 10 a.m.

Race-day registration and check-in will begin at 7:30 a.m. Participants will receive a long-sleeve T-shirt. The top three finishers — from the men, women and firefighter categories — will receive awards, as will the fire department with the most participants. Children will receive a gift as they cross the finish line.

The celebrity starter of the Firefighter 5K will be T.C. Bear, the Minnesota Twins mascot. A pre-race warm-up will be led by fitness expert Wendie Pett.

It costs $25 to participate. To register, pick up a form at City Hall, 3400 Plymouth Blvd., or visit www.active.com. Proceeds will benefit the Plymouth Firefighters Relief Association. For more information, call 763-546-9220 or e-mail PFD5K@comcast.net.

I. Lynne Carper, who chairs the city's Charter Commission, will make a presentation and answer questions.

The issue of human trafficking will be explored Saturday at Normandale Hylands United Methodist Church, 9920 Normandale Blvd.

The forum will define human trafficking, describe how it happens, its effects on victims and what can be done to protect adults and children. A question-and-answer session will follow. Presenters include Colleen Schmitt of Cornerstone, Joy Friedman of Breaking Free, and John Laux, former Bloomington police chief.

Registration is at 8:30 a.m., with complimentary refreshments, and the forum will run from 9 a.m. to noon. For more information, contact Kaye Aho at 952-941-3235.

The city of Bloomington and the Center for Energy and Environment will present a free sustainability fair from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Bloomington Civic Plaza, 1800 W. Shakopee Road.

The second annual Valley Volunteer Day is Saturday and includes many activities for groups and individuals to pitch in to help the community.

They include buckthorn busting from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Golden Valley Historical Society, 6731 Golden Valley Road; pumpkin painting from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Peaceful Valley Montessori Academy, 5530 Golden Valley Road; trail clearing from 9 to 11 a.m. at the School of Engineering and Arts, 1751 Kelly Drive, and trash pickup from 9 to 11 a.m. at Glenview Terrace Park, 2351 Zenith Av. N., and St. Croix Park, 5850 St Croix Av. N.

For details and to register online, go to http://tinyurl.com/mmxtpg6.

The League of Women Voters Golden Valley will meet Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at Davanni's, 663 Winnetka Avenue N., to discuss recycling in Golden Valley. Mark Ray of the Golden Valley Public Works Department will speak and answer questions.

Original paintings and drawings will be for sale Thursday through Sunday at the Edina Art Center, 4701 W. 64th St. Proceeds from the sale will benefit the Art Center.

Edina residents who are interested in neighborhood associations can attend a workshop explaining how they work from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday at the Edina Senior Center, 5280 Grandview Square.

Current neighborhood leaders and other experts will talk about the value neighborhood associations can add to the community. Light refreshments will be provided. RSVP to mail@edinamn.gov. For more information, contact city manager intern Annie Johnson at 952-826-0429.

Christ Lutheran Church of Maple Plain will hold a big rummage sale this week at the church, 5084 E. Main St., Maple Plain. On sale will be new and used clothing, antiques and assorted treasures. The sale will run from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday (with everything half price), and 8 a.m. to noon Saturday (Bag Day — $2 a bag).

Allan Law, the retired Minneapolis teacher who spends his nights distributing sandwiches to the homeless and help to the needy, will be honored Saturday with an open house from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Capri Theater, 2027 W. Broadway. Law has worked with impoverished children and the homeless for almost 50 years. He distributes sandwiches made by 363 Ministries.

The open house is free. For more information, go to http://tinyurl.com/nsrf6g5.

• "Flower Arranging with Warm Roses and Autumn Leaves," 9:30 a.m.-noon on Saturday at the Learning Center. Fee is $68 for arboretum members and $84 for non-members.

• "Creating a Home Landscape You Can Love," 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Saturdays, Sept. 28, Oct. 12 and 26, and Nov. 9, in the Learning Center. $120 for members, $133 for non-members.

• "Minnesota Wine Series: Octoberfest," 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, at the Learning Center. The Minnesota Grape Growers Association will showcase wines paired with a four-course meal demonstrated by a local chef. Cost is $55 for members, $65 for nonmembers.

For a full listing or to register, go to www.arboretum.umn.edu/eventsprograms.aspx or call 952-443-1422.

STAFF REPORTS