West news briefs: Senior housing issues to be discussed in Bloomington

Housing issues faced by older people are the subject of a panel discussion at 2 p.m. Tuesday at St. Stephen Lutheran Church, 8400 France Av. S.

Participants in the discussion include Careminders, a company that helps seniors stay in their homes as long as possible; Assisted Transitions, which helps seniors with options when they wish to leave their family home; RE/MAX Senior Services, a real estate agency that helps seniors relocate; and the Maser Amundson law firm, which specializes in elder law.

Refreshments will be offered. The session is sponsored by SAGE, the church's intergenerational educational organization.

Applications are due Friday for a city group that will identify community needs related to demographic changes and recommend ways to deal with those changes.

The Community Outreach Working Group will work with police, parks and the schools to prepare recommendations for the city's Human Rights & Relations Commission, which will then go to the City Council.

Candidates should have an interest in diversity and civic engagement. The group is expected to meet monthly in the evening.

Applicants should apply by 4:30 p.m. Friday, sending their name, address, contact information and a summary of how their background jibes with the working group's mission to edinamail@edinamn.gov or to the HRRC, Edina City Hall, 4801 W. 50th St., Edina, MN 55424. Candidates will be interviewed.

A World War II hero and the actor who played the Lone Ranger are among the new members of Golden Valley's Hall of Fame.

The new inductees are:

• Chester Ptaszek, also known as Chester Bird, who was one of the thousands of U.S. soldiers who stormed Omaha Beach in 1944. Ptaszek, who was in the Army infantry, died at age 35 in France on Aug. 1 of that year. American Legion Post 523 is named after Ptaszek.

• Lawrence Brown, also known as Larry or Bubba, who was a Minneapolis native who lived in Golden Valley for more than 40 years. He was a World War II vet, an athlete, helped create the income tax withholding system in Uganda, coached youth sports and was a co-founder of the Ronald McDonald House in Minneapolis. He died in 2012.

• Christopher Ewald, a pioneer whose dairy farm became the Ewald Brothers Dairy, who provided milk and other products to homes and stores in the Twin Cities. He also was city constable. He died in 1938.

Nominees to the Golden ­Valley Hall of Fame must have lived or worked in Golden Valley at some point. For more information, go to: http://www.startribune.com/a2278.

The Association of Medicine Lake Area Citizens is sponsoring a "walkabout" on Saturday, June 8, to raise public awareness about the health and history of the lake.

Families can walk, run or bike between stations set up along the bike and walking path around the lake, and they can learn about the local wildlife, fish and or how to support the association.

The event will go from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will also feature a boat ride from Harty's North.

The city of Plymouth's Parks and Recreation Department is kicking off its annual "Entertainment in the Parks" events next week. The free events will occur throughout the summer.

The schedule is: 7 p.m. Monday, June 10, Lee Engele & Friends at the Hilde small stage; 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 11, St. Peter Street Stompers Jazz Band at Parkers Lake stage; 7 p.m. June 13, Plymouth Concert Band at Hilde Amphitheater; 7 p.m. June 14, Missoula Children's Theatre: Snow White at Hilde Amphitheater; 2 p.m. June 15, Children's Theatre: Snow White at Hilde Amphitheater; 6:45 p.m. June 17, Three Rivers Naturalist: Snakes & Turtles at Hilde small stage; 7 p.m. June 18, Sarah Morris at Parkers Lake stage; 7 p.m. June 20, Shoreview Northern Lights Variety Band at Hilde Amphitheater; 7 p.m. June 24, Patchouli at Hilde small stage; 7 p.m. June 25, Plymouth Concert Band at Parkers Lake stage; At sunset, June 26, Muppets, Movie at the Hilde; 7 p.m. June 27, Wild Goose Chase Cloggers at the Hilde Amphitheater; 10 a.m. June 28, Happy B-day America Parade at Hilde small stage.

The Plymouth Police Department is hosting a "Night to Unite" block party planning meeting 7-8 p.m. Thursday, June 6, at the police department to help residents plan for the Aug. 6 event.

Residents can attend to gather ideas, ask questions and learn about other neighborhoods' events.

A final meeting will be held July 25 for all organizers at the Plymouth Creek Center, 14800 34th Av. N. One representative from each party should attend the final meeting to pick up complimentary T-shirts and receive updates.

The traditional "Night to Unite" afternoon open house will be held 2:30-5 p.m. Aug. 6 at the Plymouth Creek Center.

The Minnehaha Creek Watershed District is seeking volunteers to help with the seventh annual Minnehaha Creek cleanup on June 30.

The family-friendly event will take place from 9 a.m. to noon at Lake Hiawatha Park off 46th Street and 28th Avenue S. It will be hosted by the watershed district, Metro Blooms and the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Co's "Canoes for a Cause" campaign.

To reward volunteers for their efforts, there will be free food, prizes and music.

Registration and a free bagel breakfast begins at 9 a.m. Buses will leave at 9:30 a.m. to take volunteers to clean up locations along the creek and the Chain of Lakes.