West metro town briefs

Greenwood's website is back up and running The small lakeshore city of Greenwood now has a working website: www.cityofgreenwoodmn.com.

Greenwood started its site a few years ago, but after the city clerk died in 2004, little was done with it, said current clerk Roberta Whipple.

Now the city contracts with GovOffice.com, which provides the template, while Whipple adds to its features -- which include council agendas, city official listings and the like. Right now, many sections lack content, and the word "footer" still sits at the pages' bottom.

But as Whipple said, "essentially, the city is starting a new website from scratch," and she'll update it as her schedule allows.

Opening on Plymouth planning commission Plymouth is looking to fill a vacancy on its planning commission -- a citizen group that advises the City Council on zoning, planning and development. Applications are due Thursday, April 10.

The person who fills the seat -- an at-large spot -- will serve through January 2009. The commission typically meets a 7 p.m. on the first and third Wednesdays of the month.

Applications are available on the city website at www.ci.plymouth.mn.us. To have an application mailed to you, call 763-509-5080 and leave your name, mailing address and phone number.

Volunteers will work under a team leader and be trained to identify plants and insects. No science background is required and equipment is provided, but volunteers will be asked to commit to 20 to 40 hours of work during May, June and July.

For more information or to become a volunteer, call Mary Karius, Hennepin County Environmental Services, at 612-596-9129 or visit the program website at www.mnwhep.org.

Brookdale bus route gets evening hours Bus Route 721, meant to aid access to jobs at Brookdale Mall and nearby businesses, now has evening and weekend service.

The new times are designed to allow people who work nights and weekends to get to their jobs and students attending Hennepin Technical College in Brooklyn Park to get to class. The route, run by the Metropolitan Council, runs between the Brooklyn Center Transit Center and the college.

The weekend and evening service, funded by a federal grant, will last at least through September 2009.

The fare for Route 721 is $2 during weekday rush hours and $1.50 at all other times. For more information, see www.metrotransit.com/serviceInfo/route721.asp.