West metro town briefs

Burning ban lifted Edina has lifted the spring burning ban that was imposed last month, but residents who want to have a recreational fire still must seek a permit. They are available at City Hall, 4801 W. 50th St., or online at www.CityofEdina.com/Fire.

Permitted fires must be on private property, be contained within a fire ring or pit and be at least 25 feet from all structures. Residents must call the fire department hotline at 952-826-0398 before starting a fire to make sure outdoor burning is allowed.

Historic preservation award goes to church The Edina Heritage Preservation Board has presented the 2008 Edina Heritage Award to Edina Morningside Community Church.

The church, at 4201 Morningside Road, was built in 1922 and has been expanded and remodeled since. But those changes maintained "a timeless quality, with each addition blending seamlessly into the next," Preservation Board Chairman Chris Rofidal said in presenting the award.

Arboretum plans free family day The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum will celebrate Family Day with free admission on June 22.

Parents can bring the kids and grandparents for a celebration of the arboretum's 50th anniversary. From 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., there will be music and demonstrations, cake and ice cream, tram rides, and a 1K fun run. Visitors can bring a picnic lunch or order one in advance by calling 612-624-7173.

For more information, call 952-443-1400 or go to www.arboretum.umn.edu. The arboretum is located off Hwy. 5 in Chanhassen, nine miles west of Interstate 494.

SWAT vehicle gift The Plymouth Crime and Fire Prevention Fund and the Plymouth Lions Club have presented a new SWAT mobile command vehicle to the city. The $72,000 vehicle is used to transport police SWAT team members and their equipment to crime scenes.

The gift is the culmination of a three-year fundraising effort by the two organizations. The Plymouth Crime and Fire Prevention Fund is a nonprofit volunteer organization of Plymouth residents and business owners.

New sailing program The Upper Minnetonka Sailing School will launch its new summer Learn-to-Sail program with an open house from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Yacht Club, 4165 Shoreline Drive, Spring Park.

Information will be available on the school's adult Learn-to-Sail program as well as individualized Learn-to-Race programs and sailing clinics.

The school's goals are to introduce more people to sailing, to teach sailing safety and sportsmanship, to provide adult instruction and promote family participation in sailing, and to prepare sailors who want to compete in races.

For more information, go to www.sailawaysailingschool. com or www.umyc.org. Or call 612-871-8101.

Sex offender alert A Level 3 sex offender is moving into a neighborhood in the northwest part of Brooklyn Center, so law enforcement officials are planning a community meeting Thursday. The sex offender is moving into an area west of Xerxes Avenue N. and north of 63rd Avenue N. Residents within a half-mile of the offender's registered address were mailed notification letters.

At the meeting, officials will provide more information on the offender, the notification program and safety tips, but no further information will be released before the meeting. The public is invited to attend the session from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Brooklyn Center Community Center, 6301 Shingle Creek Pkwy.

Information about the offender will also be available for public viewing on Friday at the Brooklyn Center Police Department, 6645 Humboldt Av. N.

Replica firearms ban Brooklyn Center is on its way to banning replica firearms, joining neighbors Minneapolis and Brooklyn Park, which took the step in an effort to reduce juvenile crime.

The City Council last week gave initial approval to an ordinance change that prohibits facsimile firearms, defined as "a replica of an actual firearm, which substantially duplicates an actual firearm or which could reasonably be perceived to be an actual firearm."

The changes will not affect actual firearms and toy guns that are painted bright colors or have blaze orange extensions that clearly identify them as toys.

A public hearing is scheduled at 7 p.m. on June 23 at City Hall, 6301 Shingle Creek Pkwy. If the changes are passed, it would be illegal to carry or transport in a vehicle any facsimile firearm that is not in a secured container or a locked trunk. It also would be illegal to aim a facsimile firearm at a person, occupied vehicle or building.

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