West news briefs: Eden Prairie seeks public art entries

Eden Prairie's new aquatics renovation will include public art and the city is seeking art applications until Aug. 15.

The Eden Prairie Community Center is undergoing construction now on a $20.9 million renovation and 32,000-square-foot addition that will replace the center's 30-year-old pool with a new recreation pool as well as add two eight-lane lap pools.

The city plans to have a donor appreciation wall in the main entrance and a mural or lightweight wall relief behind spectator seating in the competition pool area; the city says it's looking for artwork with an aquatics theme and community interaction. The budget for each project is $20,000.

To apply or get more information, go to http://bit.ly/1kEtscF or edenprairie.org.

The Edina Singing Seniors will begin their 40th season in September. Rehearsals begin at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 2, and Thursday, Sept. 4, at the Edina Senior Center. New members are always welcome. For more information, go to edinasingingseniors.com.

All are invited to a forum called "Shifting the Narrative on Guns and Violence: Why Stories Have Power to Save the World," to be held in the gallery at Gethsemane Lutheran Church from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 20. Heather Martens, executive director of Protect MN, an advocacy group that works to prevent gun violence, will speak.

Gethsemane is at 715 Minnetonka Mills Rd., Hopkins. For more information, call 952-935-1753 or go to www.glconline.org.

The contest, cosponsored by the city and Plymouth Magazine, goes through Aug. 31. All entries can be submitted digitally via plymouthmag.com. The grand-prize winner will receive $100 while top picks in each category will receive $50. Plymouth Magazine will also provide gift cards to local businesses for winners. For complete contest rules, go to plymouthmag.com.

Commuters on Interstate 494 have started seeing closures as part of the extensive I-494 reconstruction project.

Because of time constraints, the state Department of Transportation closed Schmidt Lake Road under I-494 on Aug. 3 and demolished the bridge. Schmidt Lake Road will be closed for 21 days, detouring motorists via Vicksburg Lane, Northwest Boulevard and County Road 47.

For updates on the project, go to www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/projects/i494plymouth.

The Plymouth Senior Program will host an annual fundraiser Aug. 20 to raise money for senior programs, supplies and events.

For more information, call the Plymouth Creek Center at 763-509-5280.

St. Louis Park's library is closed until Aug. 30 for building upgrades.

The Hennepin County Library located at 3240 Library Lane in St. Louis Park closed on July 27. The five-week closure was needed to put in new carpet and furniture. The teen area will also be upgraded and new meeting rooms and casual seating was added along with new HVAC and electrical system upgrades.

The library will reopen at 9 a.m. Aug. 30. Before then, residents can go to other Hennepin County libraries in Edina (5280 Grandview Square), Hopkins (22 11th Av. N.) and Minneapolis (2880 Hennepin Av.). For more information, go to www.hclib.org.

Minnetonka residents can meet new Police Chief Jeff Sebenaler for a walk and talk in the park Aug. 27.

The Minnehaha Creek Watershed District is accepting grant applications for up to $25,000 from the Cynthia Krieg Watershed Stewardship Fund.

Pre-proposals must be submitted for the fund, named after Krieg for her dedication to community service and natural resource protection, by Sept. 24. The fund assists local community organizations, schools, businesses and nonprofit groups to help others understand the importance of keeping lakes, streams and wetlands healthy.

To qualify for funding, proposals must be within the watershed district's boundaries and promote community involvement in natural resource protection. For more information, go to www.minnehahacreek.org/cynthia-krieg. Full proposals are due Oct. 24.

For more information, contact MCWD Education Manager Darren Lochner at dlochner@minnehahacreek.org or 952-641-4524.

STAFF REPORTS