West metro town briefs: FBI analyst to speak to Republican seniors

Jon Watson, an intelligence analyst for the FBI, will speak to the Republican Seniors of Minnesota on Tuesday, Sept. 1. His topic will be "The National Security Mission of the FBI as It Relates to Terrorist Threats in Minnesota." Also appearing will be former U.S. Sen. Rudy Boschwitz, who will talk about his view of the U.S.-Iran nuclear agreement.

The Republican Seniors are a long-established group of Republicans aged 50+ who have a luncheon meeting on the first Tuesday of each month at Poor Richard's Commonhouse, 8301 Normandale Blvd. For more information, call 952-828-1943 or e-mail repseniorsmn@gmail.com.

FIRST Lego League sign-up for Bloomington fourth- and fifth-graders will be Thursday, Aug. 27, at elementary Back to School night. The league challenges kids to think like scientists and engineers. Each team will build, test and program an autonomous robot using LEGO Mindstorms technology to solve a set of missions. Teams operate under the league's set of core values, celebrating discovery, teamwork and gracious professionalism. Last year, about 26,000 teams participated worldwide. To learn more, go to facebook.com/BloomingtonFLL.

Carver County Public Health is offering low-cost immunizations for children returning to school who do not have insurance coverage or who carry insurance that does not cover vaccinations.

Under Minnesota law, students must show they've had required vaccinations by the start of the school year. If a student is claiming a medical or conscientious exemption, the exemption must also be filed with the school by the start of the school year.

The county is requesting a $21.22 fee for the administration of each vaccine. However, no one will be denied service if unable to pay.

The vaccinations will be offered from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 31, Sept. 8 and Sept. 14. Appointments are required. For more information or to make an appointment, call 952-361-1329.

The money raised will go to support library programs and special collections.

The Edina Singing Seniors, a singalong group, will have the first rehearsal of their 41st season at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1, in the Edina Senior Center, located in the lower level of the Edina Library, 5280 Grandview Square.

To prepare for the season, rehearsals will also be held on Thursday, Sept. 3; Tuesday, Sept. 8, and Thursday, Sept. 10 — all at 11:30 a.m. After that, regular Monday rehearsals will be held from 11:30 to 2 p.m. beginning Monday, Sept. 14.

Performances are usually on weekday afternoons. Potential new members are invited to visit at any time. There are no auditions. All that is required is a love of singing.

Recent new members have brought added talents such as playing the clarinet, some dance numbers and guitar. A backup piano player who likes to sing would be a great addition. Dues are not required, but a donation is requested as members' means allow.

Poet and attorney Tim Nolan will read from his two poetry collections, "And Then" and "The Sound of It," at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16, at the Edina Senior Center, 5280 Grandview Square. Nolan, whose poems have appeared in the Gettysburg Review, the Nation, the New Republic, Ploughshares and on "The Writer's Almanac," has an M.F.A. in writing from Columbia University and is a practicing attorney in Minneapolis. All are welcome to the free program, sponsored by the senior center's Poetry Club.

Loretto will host its 16th annual "Fun Fest" celebration on Sept. 12.

The festival, which starts at 3 p.m. at the Loretto ball fields, includes free kids' activities such as rock climbing, inflatables and face painting, as well as a market, beanbag tournament and music. At 7 p.m., community members will challenge the Medina Police Department to a game of softball. There will be fireworks at dusk.

For more, go to ci.loretto.mn.us or call 763-479-4305.

The University of Minnesota prostate cancer support group will meet from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 10, at Hope Lodge, 2500 University Av. SE, Minneapolis. This session will be an open discussion and welcome back from the summer break. The intent is to learn, support and connect as a community. Wives, family and friends are welcome. There is no charge, free parking is available behind the Lodge or on adjacent streets, and light refreshments will be served. For more information, call 612-388-3588.

The Cynthia Krieg Watershed Stewardship Fund assists local community organizations, schools, businesses and nonprofit groups to help others understand the importance of keeping lakes, streams and wetlands healthy. To qualify for funding, proposed activities must be within watershed district boundaries and promote community involvement in natural resource protection.

Pre-proposals are due by Sept. 16; applications are available at minnehahacreek.org/cynthia-krieg. Staff will provide feedback on pre-proposals to assist applicants in finalizing their grant requests and then full proposals are due by Oct. 16. For more, contact education manager Darren Lochner at dlochner@minnehahacreek.org or 952-641-4524.

Minnetonka Hopkins Gymnastics Association, better known as Mini-Hops Gymnastics, is holding a ground-breaking on Wednesday, Aug. 26, from 4:45 to 6:15 p.m. at its new location at 2600 Campus Drive in Plymouth. Mini-Hops has been a staple nonprofit gymnastics club in the west suburbs since 1976.

The new 48,080-square-foot Mini-Hops will include a preschool gym that is twice the size of the current space. In addition, the main gym will be more than three times larger, the observation area will span the whole length of the building with work areas for parents waiting for their student/athletes, an outdoor patio, drop-off and pickup lanes, a dance room, homework areas for athletes, two dedicated academic preschool rooms, several multiuse rooms and more.