Briefs: Learn about preschool programs in Eagan

Eagan families with preschool-age children have the opportunity to find out what activities are available to them at the Preschool Preview from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Eagan Community Center, 1501 Central Pkwy.

Registration for fall programs will be available on site during the preview morning. The event will feature demonstrations of the "Let's Play: Music Together" class at 9:45, 10:15 and 10:45 a.m.

Treats will be available at the free event.

Hastings has narrowed the pool of candidates to be its next police chief to three.

The finalists are John F. Arvidson, a captain with the Lakeville Police Department; Joseph Leko, a captain with the Dakota County Sheriff's Office, and Bryan D. Schafer, an inspector with Minneapolis Police Department.

A nine-member panel made up of six police department staffers and four community members chose the finalists from a pool of 39 applicants, of which six received interviews.

Next, the finalists will participate in a leadership assessment and be interviewed by the Hastings City Council public safety committee on Wednesday. The city hopes to have final council approval for the appointed candidate on Oct. 7.

The Metropolitan Council is seeking applicants for four vacancies on its Land Use Advisory Committee, which advises the council on land use and local planning issues.

The open seats include one in Dakota County, and one that covers eastern St. Paul and northern Dakota and southern Washington counties, as well as others in western Hennepin County and Anoka County.

The 18-member committee is made up of members from each Metropolitan Council District, and each metro county must be represented. At least half of the members must be local elected officials.

The Metropolitan Council is the seven-county metro planning agency. Its members are appointed by the governor.

The committee meets every other month, on the third Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m. at 390 N. Robert St. in St. Paul.

Applications are due Sept. 26 to Pat Curtiss, who can be reached at pat.curtiss@metc.state.mn.us or 651-602-1630.

Questions about the committee can be directed to Deb Detrick at debra.detrick@metc.state.mn.us or 651-602-1327.

The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is sponsoring a Scarecrows in the Gardens contest, a juried exhibit of original, one-of-a-kind creations of scarecrows and other garden folk that reflect the harvest season in Minnesota.

The contest has a $20 entry fee. All scarecrows will be on display from Sept. 21 through Nov. 3 as part of the arboretum's autumn celebration.

Suggestions include a scarecrow that reflects a pastime such as bird-watching, star-gazing or playing a yard game.

Applications are due by Sept. 6, and the scarecrow entries are due between Sept. 6 and 17. The fully assembled scarecrows must be delivered to the arboretum's Margot Picnic Shelter area between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Arboretum staff will install and determine the placement of all entries. Winners will be announced Oct. 31.

For more information and to download a registration form, see the arboretum website at www.arboretum.umn.edu, or call 952-443-4401 or e-mail kells006@umn.edu.