West metro town briefs

Andrews Sisters TV special showing A BBC-produced television special about the Andrews Sisters, entitled "Queens of the Music Machines," will be shown at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Plymouth Creek Center, 14800 34th Av., Plymouth.

The hour-long show opens with footage of the Andrews Sisters Trail in Mound and other locations around Mound where the sisters spent their childhood summers. The show then follows the careers of the Andrews Sisters, who sold more than 100 million records worldwide and had 12 No. 1 hits and 12 gold records.

The show includes commentary from Tom Rockvam, a local writer and historian who's championed the cause of commemorating the sisters' connections with Mound. Rockvam arranged the showing.

Call 763-509-5280 to reserve a space. Admission is $4.

IOCP sets record in 2009 Sleep Out Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners (IOCP) has received a record-setting level of donations during its 2009 Sleep Out campaign.

The Wayzata-based charity says its campaign totals as of last week had reached $1,568,429 in donations from 3,119 individuals.

"We are grateful beyond measure for the generosity," IOCP Executive Director LaDonna Hoy said in a news release.

Though the Sleeping Out campaign ended Dec. 23, IOCP still is accepting donations through the end of its fiscal year on March 31.

Since 1996, the IOCP's annual Sleep Out campaigns during the holiday season have raised $12 million for housing and housing-related services, allowing the agency to respond to more than 18,000 requests for emergency help from nearly 3,000 families, as well as to create more than 60 units of affordable housing in western Hennepin County.

Asperger's series set at Sabes Center Sha'arim, a Jewish educational organization for children with special needs and different learning styles, will present a free lecture on Asperger's Syndrome from 7-8:30 p.m. Sunday at the Sabes Jewish Community Center, 4330 Cedar Lake Road S., Minneapolis.

"The Good, the Bad and the Downright Odd: Asperger's Syndrome with Jesse Saperstein," will deal with a range of issues facing families and teachers.

According to Sha'arim, Saperstein is a graduate of Hobart and William Smith Colleges who was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, a mild form of autism. He has dealt with many of the challenges of Asperger's, from social awkwardness and managing emotions to extreme difficulty with change. He now works to help demystify Asperger's syndrome and autism.

Those who want to attend are asked to RSVP to csilverman@shaarim.org or call 952-303-5276 to reserve a spot. The lecture is presented in collaboration with Temple Israel and the Sabes JCC.

Adult care programs are topic of lecture Adult day-care programs will be the topic of the next NORC Health and Wellness Lecture from 2:30-3:30 p.m. today at the Parkshore Senior Campus, 3663 Park Center Blvd., St. Louis Park.

Learn how day-care programs for adults can provide a respite for everyday care-givers. The speaker will be Laura J. Philbrook, clinical nurse manager at the Deikel Family AlterCare Adult Day Program of Jewish Family and Children's Service of Minneapolis.

The free lecture is co-sponsored by the St. Louis Park Senior Program, the Hopkins Activity Center and NORC (Nurturing Our Retired Citizens). No pre-registration is necessary.

Blake Road meeting on community plan Residents and businesses along the Blake Road corridor in Hopkins are invited to a neighborhood meeting at 7 p.m. next Wednesday, Feb. 24, to learn more about a 2010 action plan for the community.

The meeting will be held at 43 Hoops Basketball Academy, 1002 2nd St. NE. in Hopkins, just west of Blake Road.

The Blake Road Corridor Collaborative includes the Intercongregation Communities Association, ResourceWest, the City of Hopkins, the Hopkins Police Department, Hopkins Community Development, Hopkins Public Schools and Community Education, Hennepin County Community Services, Community Action Partnerships of Suburban Hennepin, 43 Hoops Basketball Academy, Knollwood Mall, Shepherd of the Hills Church and Twin Cities Local Initiative's Support Coalition's Corridor Development Initiative.

Human Rights Award nominations The Edina Human Rights and Relations Commission is accepting nominations for the 2010 Tom Oye Human Rights Award, honoring the late Tom Oye and other members of the community who promote human relations and advance human rights.

Oye was a longtime Edina resident and humanitarian. A second-generation Japanese-American who helped found the rights commission, he served in the 100th Infantry Battalion of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, one of the most decorated units in U.S. military history.

Anyone who lives or works in Edina is eligible for the Oye award. Nominees will be evaluated based on their efforts to foster respect and dignity for others, model courage or compassion in the advancement of human rights, and demonstrate leadership by example for improving human relations or advancing human rights.

Ballet performing "A Woman's Light" La Danse Fatale, a non-profit youth ballet company, will perform "A Woman's Light," a new work by Julia Levina, the company's artistic director, on Saturday and Sunday at the Eden Prairie High School Performing Arts Center, 17185 Valley View Road.

"A Woman's Light" features a series of dance performances that tell the stories of women in history. The company also will perform Hans Christian Andersen's Snow Queen.

La Danse Fatale performances are directed and choreographed by Levina, who grew up in Lviv, Ukraine, and went on to dance as a professional. In 2003, she formed La Danse Fatale Ballet and Performing Arts Company for young dancers.

The performances are at 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $13 to $17 and may be purchased at www.ladansefatale.org.

Home improvement fair offers advice The City of Bloomington and the Bloomington Housing and Redevelopment Authority will host a free Home Improvement Fair, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturday at Bloomington Civic Plaza, 1800 W. Old Shakopee Rd.

Also, 16 seminars will focus on issues such as choosing a remodeler, replacing windows, creating functional kitchens and baths, and eco-wise home products. A full schedule of seminars is available at www. ci.bloomington.mn.us; search for "home fair."

Family concerts planned Feb. 21, 28 The Minnetonka Symphony Orchestra will present an afternoon of classical music for the whole family at its Bravissimo Young People's Concert at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at Normandale Hylands United Methodist Church, 9920 Normandale Blvd., Bloomington.

The concert, which features the Music Association of Minnetonka's Young Artist Competition Winner, flute player Olivia Sohlen, will be presented again at 3:30 p.m. Feb. 28 at Minnetonka United Methodist Church, 17611 Lake St., Minnetonka.

At 7:30 p.m. Monday, the Minnetonka Civic Orchestra also will present its "Soar" Concert at St. Barnabas Lutheran Church, 15600 Old Rockford Road, Plymouth. For more information, go to www.musicassociation .org or call 952-401-5954.

TwinWest gala set for March 5 The TwinWest Chamber of Commerce's 25th Anniversary Gala, "Ritz & The Revelry," is scheduled for 7 p.m.-midnight March 5 at the Doubletree Hotel Minneapolis Park Place, 1500 Park Place Blvd., St. Louis Park.

Commissioner named to geo tech panel Hennepin County Commissioner Randy Johnson has been named to a national panel on geographic information technology, the U.S. Department of the Interior announced.

The panel, called the National Geospatial Advisory Committee, advises the chair of the Federal Geographic Data Committee on geospatial data and products. Geospatial policy deals with software analysis of geographic information.

Johnson, the longest-serving commissioner in Hennepin County history, is an expert on satellite mapping systems. He also serves on the MetroGIS policy board in St. Paul and on the telecommunications and technology committee of the National Association of Counties.

Johnson was one of 14 people appointed to the geospatial committee. Already on the committee is another Minnesotan named Johnson: Randall Johnson, staff coordinator for the MetroGIS policy board.

The advisory committee meets three to four times a year. Other appointees include city and state officials, educators and executives.

KEVIN DUCHSCHERE,

HERON MÁRQUEZ ESTRADA

AND MARY JANE SMETANKA

Arboretum celebrates flowers in art exhibit The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is presenting "Flowers Fantastique," an exhibition of flowers in art, through May 31 in collaboration with Wilcock Gallery of Excelsior. Watercolors and oils are included in this colorful show representing a range of artists from around the country.

Keith Wilcock of Wilcock Gallery will be on hand to provide informal tours from 1 to 3 p.m. March 27-28 and April 10-11. All of the artworks will be available for sale, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the arboretum.