West metro town briefs

Police plan annual Santa town tourWest Hennepin Public Safety officers and reservists are planning their annual visit from Santa around Maple Plain on Saturday, Dec. 4.

Santa will travel on a decorated float with Christmas music accompaniment as helpers hand out candy to youngsters.

Reserves will be collecting non-perishable food for area food shelves, and donations also can be left through Dec. 3 at the Maple Plain City Hall, 1620 Maple Av., or Independence City Hall, 1920 County Road 90. Those preferring to donate cash can mail it or drop it off at the West Hennepin Public Safety office, 1918 County Road 90, Maple Plain.

To meet Santa and take photos, residents may come to the Independence City Hall parking lot between 3:15 and 3:30 p.m. or the Maple Plain City Hall parking lot between 5:15 and 5:45 p.m. Dec. 4, or catch up with Santa as his float tours through town between 3:30 and 7 p.m.

For more details, call West Hennepin Public Safety at 763-479-0500.

50th & France to hold tree lighting on SaturdayThe 50th & France Association is planning a holiday tree-lighting ceremony for 5 p.m. Saturday. Visits with Santa and reindeer sleigh rides will be offered from 2-5 p.m., and music by the Chamber Singers of Edina High School will begin at 3 p.m.

The association is also planning "Holiday Strolls" from 1-3 p.m. Dec. 4, 11 and 18, when reindeer sleigh rides and music will be offered.

'Holiday Hootenany' at Bayview Event CenterA "Girls Night Out, Help a Sister Out, Holiday Hootenanny!" is planned for Dec. 2 at the Bayview Event Center, 687 Excelsior Blvd. in Excelsior.

The event will include dinner and show with comic Kristin Andersen-Anderson and Jodi Maruska, as well as a holiday boutique featuring the wares of local artists. A massage therapist also will be on the premises.

Dinner and show seatings will begin from 5:30-6:30 p.m., with the show at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $15 for the show only or $30 for the dinner and show, and may be purchased at www.bayviewevent.com. For more information, call 612-247-5482.

Classes aim to help elderly avoid fallsSenior Helpers of the Twin Cities is offering classes called "A Matter of Balance" to help elderly residents learn how to prevent falls.

It consists of classes that teach skills and exercises seniors can use to improve their physical strength and reduce their risk of falling in their own homes.

The program is free, though a small donation is suggested to cover expenses.

For more information, call Senior Helpers of Bloomington at 952-392-1999 or go to www.senior helpers.com.

Job workshops are being held in DecemberWomen in Transition is offering a two-day Job Transition Services workshop Dec. 7 and 9 at the Employment Action Center Office in Lenox Community Center, 6715 Minnetonka Blvd., St. Louis Park.

The sessions, scheduled for 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. each day, are designed to help clients chart a career path, navigate obstacles and land a job. Fees are charged on a sliding scale based on ability to pay.

To help clients dealing with major life changes, another workshop entitled "Transitions -- Moving On!" is scheduled for 1-4 p.m. Dec. 8 at the Lenox Center.

For more information on these and other programs of Women in Transition, call 612-752-8444.

Coats will be collected at Our Lady of GraceThe Our Lady of Grace Men's Club Christmas tree lot, at 5071 Eden Av. in Edina, will join forces with the Angel Fund to collect coats for the needy beginning Friday and continuing through Dec. 18.

Visitors to the tree lot are encouraged to donate new or used winter coats that will go to charities throughout the Twin Cities, such as St. Stephens Men's Shelter and St. Anne's for women and children.

For more information, go to www.olgmensclub.org.

Annual holiday sale kicks off at ArboretumEarly birds can get the first shot at the best items in the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum's Auxiliary Holiday Sale by attending the Preview Night sale Dec. 2.

The event from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Arboretum's Snyder Building will include wine and hors d'oeuvres. Tickets are $25 per person and may be reserved by calling Diana at 952-448-1608.

The Holiday Sale will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5, in the Snyder Building Auditorium.

Gifts and decorations handmade by Auxiliary volunteers will be featured, including arrangements with permanent botanicals, natural ornaments, aromatherapy items, textiles, apparel and pressed-flower items. Fresh greens shipped in from the West Coast also will be available.