West Metro community news briefs

Hennepin County commissioners have appointed Steve Antolak as a new commissioner for Three Rivers Park District.

Antolak, a Brooklyn Park lawyer, will join six other board members who oversee management of the park system. It includes 23 parks, park reserves and special areas on 27,000 acres, and about 200 miles of trails, mostly in suburban Hennepin County.

Antolak has practiced law for nearly 30 years, and last November ran unsuccessfully for Hennepin County District Court.

He was elected to the Osseo area school board and has been active in the North Hennepin Area Chamber of Commerce. He has also served on the Brooklyn Park Planning Commission and Human Rights Commission.

The Three Rivers board includes five commissioners elected from districts in Hennepin County, plus two commissioners appointed by the Hennepin County Board for four-year terms. They are paid $927 per month, except for the board chairman, who is paid $978.50 per month, and they generally meet twice a month.

The Carver County Library will present a Writer's Fair from 12:30-5 p.m. Saturday, April 6.

Author Peter Bognanni and Loft instructor Holly Day will offer tips for polishing a manuscript, self-publishing, editing, writing for children, blogs, gaining exposure and more.

Run The Valley, one of Golden Valley's most popular community events, needs volunteers at Brookview Community Center on April 13 to make the event run smoothly and safely for runners and walkers.

Run The Valley is one of the main fundraisers for the Golden Valley Human Services Fund, which helps city residents in times of need.

Volunteers must be available on April 13 from 6:30 to 10:30 a.m., depending on responsibilities. Volunteers are needed to help with greeting, registration, timing participants, refreshments, cleanup, photography and on the course and at the finish line.

Complete descriptions of volunteer positions are available at www.goldenvalleymn.gov/events/runthevalley/volunteers.

To volunteer, contact Sandy Werts at swerts@goldenvalleymn.gov or at 763-512-2341.

Cilek will discuss the group's lawsuit against Secretary of State Mark Ritchie and same-day registration. The lawsuit is pending at the Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

The event begins at 10 a.m. with a business meeting and coffee, followed by the guest speaker. At noon lunch is available from a menu ranging in price from $6 to $11. There is a $3 charge for members and guests not ordering lunch.

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

Residents of all faiths are invited to the ninth annual Maple Grove Mayor's Prayer Breakfast.

The event will be held at 7:30 a.m. May 2 at Rush Creek Golf Club in Maple Grove, 7801 County Road 101. Pastor Russ Berg of Maple Grove Evangelical Free Church will be the keynote speaker for the event, which will also include music, a buffet breakfast and an opportunity to visit with others who attend.

The Maple Grove Arts Center is presenting screenwriter Leo Benvenuti and comedian Scott Hansen in a screenwriting seminar from 1-4 p.m. Saturday, April 6, at the arts center.

Benvenuti has written popular family films like "The Santa Clause," "Space Jam" and "Kicking and Screaming." He will cover tips for experienced and novice writers alike, including how to getting started, and pitching and selling your work. Hansen will provide insight on writing jokes for the screen.

Tickets for the seminar are $49 in advance and $59 at the door, which will include two complementary tickets to a stand-up comedy show the two will present that evening. Buy tickets online at www.brownpapertickets.com.

Benvenuti also is holding his debut Minnesota art exhibit now through April 6 at the Arts Center. His work is featured in many private collections in Los Angeles and elsewhere. Admission is free and gallery hours are Wednesdays-Saturdays from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and Thursday from 6-8 p.m.

The Maple Grove Arts Center is located at 7916 Main St. For information, call 763-250-1016 or go to www.maplegrove artscenter.org.

The family of Jonathan Groetsch, who died at age 26 following an 18-month battle with colon cancer, is also hosting an event the evening before the race.

Groetsch was a Wayzata High graduate and hockey player and an avid fisherman and boater. He was diagnosed with colon cancer in January 2004 at the age of 24. (For more on his story, go to www.caringbridge.org/visit/jona thangroetsch.) Since his death, friends and family have participated each year in the "Get Your Rear in Gear" 5k.

The race this year falls on what would have been Groetsch's 33rd birthday. The family is hosting a karaoke contest and silent auction on April 20 from 8:30-11:30 p.m. at the Wayzata Legion Hall, 949 Wayzata Blvd. E. Any individual or business interested in donating or getting involved can e-mail hgroetsch@gmail.com or call 612-723-1007.

In the past eight years, more than 25,000 runners, walkers, spectators and volunteers have contributed to the success of the "Get Your Rear in Gear" Twin Cities event and have raised over $800,000. Seventy-five percent of the funds raised in the Twin Cities stay local to increase colon cancer screening rates.

Race-day registration begins at 7 a.m. on April 21. The Kids' Fun Run is at 8:30 a.m. The 5k timed run begins at 9 and the 5k walk at 9:05. Go to www.getyourrearingear.com for more information.

Anyone in the community can nominate a veteran who served in the U.S. military and has an Eden Prairie connection. Preference is given to veterans who served in a combat zone and have been killed or wounded in action.

To submit a nomination form, go to http://bit.ly/15wbNWH and e-mail it to epvets@gmail.com or mail it to Eden Prairie Veterans Memorial, 8080 Mitchell Road, Eden Prairie, MN 55344.

Abbott Northwestern Hospital will host a free educational session on seizures and epilepsy from 1:30-2:30 p.m. Thursday at WestHealth, 2805 Campus Drive, Plymouth.

The event, which is open to the public, will feature neurologist Patricia Penovich ­discussing "Dispelling Myths: The Truth about Seizures and Epilepsy."

For more information and to register, contact the Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota at 651-287-2310 or e-mail rsvp@efmn.org.

The activities will take place in the fieldhouse, 14800 34th Av. N. Admission is $5, or free for children ages 16 and under. Proceeds will support the Plymouth Millennium Garden.

The expo includes lawn and garden vendors and a Saturday plant sale. For more details, go to www.plymouthmn.gov.

Brunch will be served from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Easter Day, March 31, at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.

The meal will consist of an assortment of pastries, eggs, salads, breakfast meats, fresh fruit and a dessert buffet. Cost is $24 for members and children 8 and older, $26 for nonmembers, $9.50 for ages 4-7, and free for age 3 and younger.

Space is limited and reservations are required. Call 612-626-3951 for reservations or go to https://umnarboretum.catertrax.com.