West metro town briefs: Author Anna Quindlen to speak at Plymouth school

The Bookcase in Wayzata is presenting a free event with author Anna Quindlen.

The novelist and journalist will speak about her new novel, "Still Life With Bread Crumbs," at 7 p.m. Feb. 12 at Wayzata Central Middle School, 305 Vicksburg Lane, Plymouth.

Quindlen, who won the Pulitzer Prize for commentary in 1992 as a columnist at the New York Times, is the author of six novels.

Theatre 301, the theater company of Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Excelsior, will host "The Sound of Music" starting this month.

The show — led by director Karin Maas, artistic director Doug Affinito and musical director Mark Abelsen — will take place at the church, 301 County Rd. 19. Shows take place at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 21, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 22, 3 p.m. Feb. 23, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28, 7:30 p.m. March 1 and 3 p.m. March 2.

Tickets are $15 for adults or $5 for students ages 18 and under. Family and groups of 10 people or more can purchase tickets for $10 each. To order, go to www.mountcalvary.org or call 952-474-8893, ext. 116.

Colleen Schmitt, manager of Day One-Minnesota Domestic Crisis Line, will speak on elder abuse and human trafficking in the metro area at discussions on Saturday, Feb. 8, and Thursday, Feb. 13.

The discussions are presented by the League of Women Voters Edina. For more information, visit LWV Edina on Facebook or at www.lwvedi na.org.

Singer Patty Peterson will be the Thursday, Feb. 6, speaker at the Rotary Club of Edina. Peterson, a member of Minnesota's "first family of music," will recount how she recovered from a life-threatening illness to live and sing again.

The Rotary meets at noon at the Edina Country Club, 5100 Wooddale Av. S. Meetings are open to the public; the cost of the lunch and program is $18. For more information, go to www.edinarotary.org.

The Robbinsdale Police Department will hold a crime prevention meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 5.

It will start at 7 p.m. at the police department to discuss identity theft, Internet fraud, telephone scams and other technological crimes. Police officers will give tips on how to prevent and recognize identity theft and other fraudulent activity. The crime prevention association board also will vote on board candidates.

Admission to the 7:05 p.m. event at Richfield Ice Arena is $8 to $13. After the game with the Springfield Junior Blues, special pink Magicians jerseys will be auctioned off for a minimum of $200. Other items will be sold at auction and there will be a raffle, prize giveaways and black jack tables in the concourse. All proceeds benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure, a foundation that funds breast cancer research.

The arena is a 636 E. 66th St.

On Tuesday, Feb. 11, the city's Human Services Department will have a session with "certified laughter leader" Stacy Berglund on why laughter really is the best medicine, and how people need to laugh more.

The free event will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. at Creekside Community Center, 9801 Penn Av. S. Coffee and treats will be provided. Participants must register by calling 952-563-4944.

Retired New York Police Department detective Dan Murphy will discuss his experiences as a first responder to the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, at a free event at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26, in the club room at TowerLight on Wooddale Avenue senior apartments, 3601 Wooddale Av. S., St. Louis Park. A complimentary lunch will be served. Space is limited, so RSVPs are required; call 952-881-6322 by noon Friday, Feb. 21.