West metro town briefs: Plymouth residents' donations fund police K9 vest

Donations from Plymouth residents have helped ensure that all three police K-9s have bullet- and stab-protective vests.

The city received two protective vests last fall from Massachusetts-based nonprofit Vested Interest in K-9s, which purchases and donates the vests for law enforcement dogs throughout the country. The vests went to Plymouth Police Officer Matt Gliniany for his K-9 partner, Stryker, a German shepherd, and to Officer Bill Dane for his K-9, Odie, a Belgian Malinois.

But news that one more K-9 was without a vest spurred residents to donate, including an anonymous donation of $1,000, so that a third vest could go to the department's newest K-9, Knight, a German shepherd partnered with Office Steve Larson.

Protective vests are valued at about $1,000 and have a five-year warranty. For more information about Vested Interest in K-9s, call 508-824-6978 or visit www.vik9s.org.

Plymouth Senior Services will host its annual Belgian waffle breakfast fundraiser on Feb. 2 to raise money for senior programs.

The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Plymouth Creek Center, 14800 34th Av. N. It includes all-you-can-eat waffles, sausage, coffee and juice. The cost to attend is $7 for guests ages 6 and older and $4 for ages 5 and younger; payment will be collected at the door.

For more information, call 763-509-5280.

This free annual event provides an opportunity for residents to converse — and ice skate — with Mayor Kelli Slavik. A bonfire and treats will be provided.

The city of Plymouth will hold its 25th annual Fire & Ice Festival from 2 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1 at Parkers Lake Park.

The free event will include recycling-bin races, a youth ice fishing contest, a goofy hat contest, a petting zoo, hayrides, pony and sled-dog rides, miniature golf, snow bowling, a bonfire with s'mores and hot chocolate, and recreational skating. Three food trucks will be present.

Entertainment will include a performance by Sköl Line, the drumline of the Minnesota Vikings, at 5 p.m., followed by the folkloric dance group Asi Es Mi Perú at 5:45 p.m. The finale of the evening — fireworks sponsored by the Plymouth Civic League — will begin around 6:30 p.m.

For more information, go to www.plymouthmn.gov.

It will take place from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the Minnetonka Community Center, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd. A continental breakfast will be served. RSVP by Feb. 3 to ktelega@eminnetonka.com or 952-939-8211.

Lois Langer Thompson, director of the Hennepin County Library, will speak to the Golden Valley DFL Women's Club on Wednesday, Feb. 5, in Minnetonka.

The event will begin at 9:30 a.m. with coffee with guest legislator Sen. Ronald Latz, DFL-St. Louis Park. The program will begin at 10 a.m.

It will take place in the west building of the RidgePointe Apartments, 12800 Marion Lane W., Minnetonka.

The city of Edina will host a meeting about the future of municipal golf operations from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 30, at the Braemar Golf Course, 6364 John Harris Dr.

At the meeting, city staff will introduce plans to reduce costs and increase revenues for the golf ­enterprise, which includes Braemar Golf Course, Fred Richards Executive Golf Course and the Braemar Golf Dome.

Under the plan, new revenues would be used to improve Braemar Golf Course to attract new golfers. Those in attendance will then be asked to provide feedback.

Community feedback will be considered before city staff members present their recommendations to the Park Board and City Council later this winter.

For more information, contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 952-826-0367.

Paul and Patty Peterson; Larry Braggs, former lead singer of Tower of Power; and Nicholas David of "The Voice" will be among the performers at a Feb. 10 benefit to raise money for scholarships that allow young people to participate in programs at the Southdale YMCA.

Admission is $45 per person, with dinner costing an additional $39. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Dakota at 612-332-5299 or by going to www.dakotacooks.com.

The annual State of the City/Taste of Hopkins is Wednesday, Feb. 5, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Hopkins Center for the Arts, 1111 Mainstreet.

The evening will begin with the Taste of Hopkins at 5 p.m., with free samples of food and beverages from area restaurants and businesses. People are asked to bring a financial donation or nonperishable food item to benefit local food shelf ICA. The Taste event is sponsored by the city, the Hopkins Business and Civic Association and Twin West Chamber of Commerce.

Mayor Gene Maxwell and the City Council will present the State of the City at 6 p.m. in the Jaycees Studio. For more information, call 952-935-8474.

Nationally recognized author Jane Rubietta will be the featured speaker Feb. 8 at the Sisters in Spirit Women's Gathering at Gethsemane Lutheran Church, 715 Minnetonka Mills Rd., Hopkins.

Former U.S. Sen. Rudy Boschwitz and Hennepin County Commissioner and gubernatorial candidate Jeff Johnson will speak at the Republican Seniors of Minnesota luncheon meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 4. Boschwitz will speak on the subject "Why America Is Great."

Each Republican Seniors meeting begins at 10 a.m. with attendees sharing political insights, along with coffee. The discussion of current topics is led by the convener, followed by the guest speaker.

At noon, lunch is served, with prices ranging from $6 to $11. There is a minimum charge of $3 for members and guests not ordering lunch.

The location is Poor Richard's Commonhouse, 8301 Normandale Blvd., Bloomington. For more information, call 952-828-1943 or e-mail repseniorsmn@gmail.com.