West news briefs: Celebrate Japanese culture at Normandale

Food, entertainment, shopping and a chance to connect with the Twin Cities' Japanese community will be featured at a Japanese garden festival from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 14, at Normandale Community College.

Admission is $6 in advance, $8 at the door; free to children 12 and under. All proceeds will benefit Normandale's Japanese garden. For more information, go to www.normandale.edu/japanesegarden.

Fare For All, a cooperative food purchasing program, will have its grand opening at Creekside Community Center, 9801 Penn Av. S., on Wednesday, June 18, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The bulk-buying program provides packages of fresh fruits and vegetables for $10 and quality frozen meat for $11 or $25. The program is open to anyone who wants to stretch their food dollars. No preordering is required, and people can shop on site.

Cash, EBT, credit and debit cards are accepted, but checks are not. Other Fare For All dates are July 23, Aug. 20, Sept. 17, Oct. 15, Nov. 12 and Dec. 10. This program is co-sponsored by the City of Bloomington Human Services Division. For more information, call 952-563-4944 or go to: http://bloomingtonmn.gov/cityhall/dept/commserv/humserv/services/nutrition/fare_for_all_2014.pdf.

On Thursday, June 12, residents concerned about what will happen to Fred Richards Golf Course after it closes this fall can weigh in at a 7 p.m. meeting at the Public Works & Parks Maintenance Facility, 7450 Metro Blvd.

Jeff and Kathy Schoenbauer of the Schoenbauer Consulting team will run the meeting, listening to ideas, suggestions and concerns about the repurposing of The Fred to shape recommendations that will go to the City Council this fall. City officials have said the golf course will remain parkland, but what form that will take has not been determined.

The new displays, which will be on site through May 2015, mark the 10th anniversary of public art in Edina. To kick off the exhibit, the city's Arts & Culture Commission will host an opening reception from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 18, at Pinstripes, 3849 Gallagher Dr, where the artists will be on hand to talk to the public about their sculptures.

Once again, the People's Choice Awards will award prizes of $1,000, $750 and $500 to sculptors whose work is best-loved by the public. Votes can be left in yellow voting boxes near the sculptures, and people are asked to vote only once.

For more information about public art in Edina, or for information about purchasing a sculpture, contact Michael Frey at 952-903-5729 or at mfrey@EdinaMN.gov.

Golden Valley residents and organizations that serve the community are encouraged to participate in the spring Bridge Builders meeting on Saturday, June 14, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Golden Valley Historical Society, 6731 Golden Valley Road

The event will feature a presentation by the Golden Valley Historical Society, a tour of the newly remodeled society building and a discussion about how to organize around issues that concern city residents.

All are invited to a free town hall forum on inequality and poverty featuring author Julia Dinsmore on Wednesday, June 18, from 7 to 8 p.m. in the Gallery at Gethsemane Lutheran Church.

Dinsmore is a Minnesota poet, author, singer and educator and the author of "My Name is Child of God … Not 'Those People'", her own story of living in generational poverty from childhood, to raising her sons as a single mother, to middle age.

Gethsemane is at 715 Minnetonka Mills Road For more information, call 952-935-1753 or go to www.glconline.org. Dinsmore's book will be available for purchase after the program.

Thirty years of great music in downtown Hopkins will be marked Thursday, June 19, with a concert by the 1st John Philip Sousa Memorial Band. At 6:15 p.m., the Fife and Drum Corps will perform at Clock Tower Plaza at the corner of Mainstreet and 9th Avenue. The band concert begins in the band shell at 7 p.m.

All summer concerts are at Downtown Park at 16 9th Av. S. In the event of rain, concerts are held at the Hopkins Activity Center at 33 14th Av. N.

On July 24, the Bend in the River Big Band plays at 7 p.m.; on July 31, the Prior Lake WindJammers play at 7 p.m.; and Echoes of Elvis concludes the season on Aug. 7 at 7 p.m.

For more information, call 952-908-1144 or visit hopkinsmusicinthepark.com.

The University of Minnesota prostate cancer support group will meet from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, June 12, at Hope Lodge, 2500 University Av. SE., Minneapolis.

Dr. Gautam Jha, medical oncologist from the university, will speak, and a question-and-answer segment will follow.

Wives, family and friends are welcome. There is no charge, parking is free and light refreshments will be served. For more information, call 612-388-3588.

Tickets are on sale now at the Plymouth Bachman's for $10, and will be $15 at the library from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the day of the tour. Children ages 12 or younger are free. Tour maps will be available at the Plymouth Library and at Bachman's, and the event will be held rain or shine.

All proceeds benefit the library.

The Bookcase, 824 E. Lake St., will host several author book signings this month. Kicking off the signings are Midge Bubany, author of "The Equalizer," who will be at the bookstore Thursday, June 12, at 7 p.m., and Joanne Reisberg, author of "What's Behind the Mighty Fitz," who will be signing books Saturday, June 14, at 1 p.m. All events are free and open to the public.

The production, "Free to Be … You and Me," will take place Tuesday, June 17, through Thursday, June 19, at the Minnetonka Civic Center outdoor amphitheater.

Shows will take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 17, as well as 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 18. A final show will take place at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 19. The amphitheater is located at 14600 Minnetonka Blvd. For more information, go to www.eminnetonka.com.

The event will take place from 9 to 10 a.m. at Purgatory Park, 17315 Excelsior Blvd. Sebenaler will be on hand to meet residents and answer questions about the Minnetonka Police Department.

The Minnetonka Summer and Burwell Festival will take place Saturday, June 28.

This year, the festival will include an 8K race, tot trot, softball tournament, magic, face painting, musical entertainment, tours of the historic Burwell House, food, fireworks and more. For a schedule of events, visit www.eminnetonka.com.