West metro briefs: Eden Prairie Lioness Club to hold arts and crafts fair Nov. 7

Westonka library celebrates 100th year

This year marks the 100th anniversary of library service in the Westonka area and, to celebrate, the library is hosting a photo display throughout October. The display is sponsored by the Friends of Westonka Library. In 1915, Hennepin County contracted with the Minneapolis Public Library for library service outside the city limits and Mound was one of the first communities to take advantage of the then-new service. The library has been at its present location, 2079 Commerce Blvd., since 1972. For details, go to hclib.org/about/news/2015/September/Westonka%20anniversary.

The Lake Minnetonka Conservation District is accepting applications for its annual grants for public safety, environmental and public service/education projects. Applicants have until 4:30 p.m. Dec. 4 to apply for a grant through the Save the Lake Fund, a nonprofit fund that invests in programs related to public safety, environmental and recreation on the lake. For more or to apply, go to lmcd.org/save-the-lake.

The Eden Prairie Lioness Club's arts and crafts fair will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at Grace Church, 9301 Eden Prairie Rd. Items made by area artisans and crafters, as well as antiques, will be featured. There is no admission fee.

All net proceeds will go back into the community. The Lioness Club, in partnership with the Eden Prairie Lions, has supported Leader Dogs for the Blind, Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota, the Minnesota Eye Bank, Teens Alone, the PACER Puppet Program, the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, Cornerstone, Friendship Ventures and the Eden Prairie Crime Prevention Fund. For information, go to www.eplionessart-craft.com.

The Excelsior-Lake Minnetonka Historical Society and the Minnesota Streetcar Museum will host the annual "Booseum and Ghost Trolley" fundraiser Oct. 23-24.

The event, which will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Excelsior-Lake Minnetonka Historical Society Museum in Excelsior, will feature music by Mystic 5, a costume parade, youth performances, tours of the haunted museum and a trolley ride with Halloween characters. Tickets are $5 for attendees ages 10 and under and $7 for ages 11 and up.

Residents of Excelsior and the Lake Minnetonka community are invited to an informational open house hosted by the Community for the Commons from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, at Excelsior City Hall, 343 3rd St.

Community for the Commons is an Excelsior-based, 501c3 nonprofit park conservancy founded in 2015 to develop funding and long-term strategies to preserve, protect and enhance the Excelsior Commons.

Its board members will introduce the organization's mission and explain how the organization will collaborate with the city to create a master plan for the 14-acre park.

The Hopkins Women's Club will meet Tuesday, Oct. 20, at Mizpah United Church of Christ, 412 5th Av. N. Lunch will be served at noon, followed by a short business meeting and a 1 p.m. program.

The program will feature Molly Cummings, a member of the Hopkins City Council and a candidate for mayor.

Volunteers from around the Twin Cities will gather for a "reviveTWIN CITIES" outreach event on Saturday, Oct. 17. The free event will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Ridgewood Church in Minnetonka.

The event begins with worship and prayer, followed by training and outreach. For more information, go to revivetwincities.org.

Do you love to sing? The Plymouth Rockers Senior Chorus invites anyone 55+ to join them as they prepare for their Dec. 6 holiday concert and other events.

For 24 years, the Rockers have been performing songs from Broadway show tunes to Golden Oldies to jazz to spirituals. Members come from 15 metro communities.

The Rockers rehearse from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Mondays at the Plymouth Creek Center, 14800 34th Av. N. There are no auditions to join.

Three Rivers Park District will host a Halloween event Oct. 24 at Lowry Nature Center in Carver Park Reserve in Victoria. The event, which takes place from 5-9 p.m., includes trick-or-treating, a bonfire, cookie decorating, games and crafts.

The cost is $9; groups of four or more people get a 20 percent discount and children under age 2 get free admission.