West news briefs: Arboretum hosts LEGO exhibit

The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum will host a summer exhibition on LEGO bricks.

The exhibit, "Nature Connects: Art with LEGO Bricks," will open May 15 to Aug. 30 at the arboretum and feature 13 displays of 26 large, nature-inspired sculptures made from 500,000 LEGO bricks. The sculptures are created by artist Sean Kenney of Brooklyn, N.Y.

The exhibit will also include kids' activity areas where LEGO enthusiasts can engage in free play and a "LEGOS in the Garden" summer-day camp for first- through fourth-graders Aug. 5-6. For more information, go to arboretum.umn.edu.

"The Poetry of War and Peace" will be the topic of a program to be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18, at the Edina Senior Center, 5280 Grandview Square. Ed Schwartzbauer will lead a discussion of World War I poets. Those attending are encouraged to bring in poetry about any of America's wars. For more information, call 952-833-9570.

The Women's Club of Hopkins will meet at noon on Tuesday, Feb. 17, at Mizpah United Church of Christ, 412 5th Av. N. Lunch will be served at noon, followed by a business meeting and a 1 p.m. program featuring concert pianist Meg Redmond on "The Life and Times and Music of Gershwin."

To reserve a spot, call 952-988-7740. Please make your reservation by Friday, Feb. 13.

Volleyballs will be flying at sites across the Twin Cities and Rochester this weekend, when the 25th Annual Presidents' Day Festival takes place. The festival will draw 680 junior girls' teams from Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota and Canada.

For more, go to www.ncrusav.org.

Minnetonka Police Explorers Post 884 will host its annual pancake breakfast on Sunday, Feb. 15.

The event will take place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Minnetonka Community Center at 14600 Minnetonka Blvd. The event will raise money for the program, which is for young adults ages 14 to 20 with an interest in law enforcement. For more information, contact police officer Larissa Johnson at 952-939-8500.

The Minnehaha Creek Watershed District is seeking input on its 10-year plan.

The district will hold meetings in February and March on the Comprehensive Water Resources Management Plan, which guides the activities and programs of the watershed district. The 10-year plan is required of all watershed districts in the state and is due in 2017.

The public can also meet the new district administrator Lars Erdahl at the meetings. For more information, go to minnehahacreek.org/2017.

Michael Barone has officially become city administrator in Minnetrista.

Barone had served as city administrator on an interim basis since May.

The City Council recently unanimously approved Barone's employment agreement for his new job. He will be paid $103,000 and receive a car allowance of $350 a month.

Blue Water Theatre Company of Wayzata will present "Jekyll & Hyde: The Musical" at 7 p.m. Feb. 19, 20 and 21 and at 2 p.m. Feb. 22 at the New Century Theatre in Minneapolis (615 Hennepin Av.; inside City Center).

Excelsior is seeking community input as it revises its historic preservation ordinance and develops design guidelines for the downtown historic district.

The open house, which will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. Feb. 26 at 339 3rd St., will include an explanation on the purpose of revising the ordinance, describe the project time frame, highlight historic preservation principles and get community input. Refreshments will be provided.

A second open house will be held this spring to review the revised ordinance and design guidelines.

The state Department of Transportation is hosting three open houses in Plymouth, Minnetonka and Maple Grove on the major construction project on Interstate 494 and other west metro projects.

The first open house will be held from 5-7 p.m. Feb. 26 at Plymouth Library Community Room, 15700 36th Ave. N., in Plymouth.

And the final meeting will be held from 5-7 p.m. March 4 at the Maple Grove Community Center's Banquet Room, 12951 Weaver Lake Road, in Maple Grove.

The open houses will discuss the 8-mile construction project on I-494 between I-394 in Minnetonka and the I-94/694 Interchange in Plymouth and Maple Grove, adding a long-awaited third lane to the interstate.

They will also discuss construction projects on Hwy. 12, Hwy. 610 and I-394.