West metro town briefs

Stages presents 'Goodnight Moon' Stages Theatre Company will present "Goodnight Moon," a new musical adaptation of the classic children's book, beginning Friday and running through Feb. 15 at the Hopkins Center for the Arts, 1111 Mainstreet, Hopkins.

The story, based on the book by Margaret Wise Brown with illustrations by Clement Hurd, depicts a young child's bedtime routine of saying "goodnight" to everything in sight.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $11 for kids and seniors. For more information, go to www.stagestheatre.org or call 952-979-1111.

Winter Neighborhood Night Out planned Edina's park and recreation department will have its second annual Winter Neighborhood Night Out on Friday in Arden, Creek Valley, Normandale, Pamela, Weber and Cornelia parks.

From 7 to 8:30 p.m., residents are invited to enjoy ice skating, sledding, snow play and spending time with family and friends at one of the parks. Warming houses will be open, and free hot cider will be offered.

If weather is bad, the event will be rescheduled for Jan. 23.

New panel to monitor child protection The Hennepin County Board is seeking 11 to 15 volunteers to serve on a new county Child Protection Citizen Review Panel.

Volunteers must live in the county, be willing to serve at least two years, and meet a number of other qualifications, including a criminal background check.

For more information, contact Yolanda McCrary by phone at 612-348-3257 or by mail at A2400 Government Center, 300 S. 6th St., Minneapolis MN 55487. Or, get an application via the Internet on hennepin.us under "your county government/Citizen advisory boards."

The deadline for applications is Feb. 5.

Task force to target property maintenance Richfield is looking for volunteers to serve on a nine-member Property Excellence Task Force. The group will look at ways to improve exterior property maintenance in housing, commercial and city-owned property.

The city is looking for individuals who represent a range of constituencies, including different types of housing and commercial properties. Work on the project will last six to 12 months, and task force members will spend two to three hours each month in meetings. A liaison from the city will work with the group.

Family donates $35,000 to Art Center Wanting to make sure that the building they donated to the city of Eden Prairie would be used for an art center, the Sampson family now has given $35,000 to make improvements that will get the Eden Prairie Art Center open by April.

Last week the City Council accepted the donation and approved spending $29,000 of it to put in a second bathroom and change doors to bring the building up to code for public use, said Jay Lotthammer, director of Parks and Recreation for the city.

The Sampson family asked that the remaining $6,000 be used to purchase art equipment such as kilns and pottery wheels.

The plan now is to open the center by April for classes, Lotthammer said.

Private fundraising for the building will continue, he said.

The events are scheduled for 4-6 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday and from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on Wednesday at Aurora Jewelers, 8220 Commonwealth Drive, Eden Prairie. Those who participate will have a chance to work with a jeweler in creating their own Swarovski necklace or bracelet.

Cost will be $20 per person with pre-registration and $25 per person at the door. For more information or to register, contact lea@edenprairieartcenter.com or go to edenprairieart center.com.

All proceeds will go to the Friends of the Eden Prairie Art Center fundraising drive.