West news briefs: Fall events underway at Arboretum

Fall events underway at ArboretumFall's blazing colors are taking over the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Festivities celebrating the season include:

• "Scarecrows in the Gardens," through Nov. 4, with 25 fun garden characters in raggedy clothes and whimsical poses.

• "Pumpkin Palooza" exhibit, through Nov. 4. A display of cucurbits (aka pumpkins, gourds and squash) reflecting the endless variety available.

• AppleHouse, open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through early November, offers 50 varieties for sale through the season. Located just west of the Arboretum's main entrance on Hwy. 5 and Rolling Acres Road. Call 952-443-1409 to find out what varieties are available on a given day.

The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is 9 miles west of Interstate 494 on Hwy. 5 in Chanhassen. Admission is $12 for adults and ages 13 and older, and free for children 12 and younger. Memberships also are available.

Freeman to discuss voter ID proposalHennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman will discuss a proposed voter ID amendment to the Minnesota Constitution at 7 p.m. Monday at Minnesota Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Bloomington.

If the amendment were approved by voters this November, it would require Minnesotans to present a photo ID with current address in order to vote in national, state and local elections.

Chamber gets new presidentThe Richfield Chamber of Commerce has named Angie Schaefbauer of Eagan as its new president, the board of directors announced last week.

Schaefbauer, a small business owner with a degree from Minnesota State University at Mankato, had been the chamber's interim director since August.

She replaces longtime president Steve Lindgren, who retired Aug. 1.

New bike racks at 50th and FranceTwenty-nine new bike racks are being installed at 50th and France, nearly doubling the bike rack capacity.

The racks, each of which can hold two bikes, are being added in seven locations. The project, which was conceived by the Bike Edina Task Force, is intended to get people to bike more and reduce traffic congestion.

City Council candidates forumsCandidates for Edina City Council will participate in two forums Thursday.

At 7 p.m., council candidates Chad Bell, Mary Brindle, Wayne Dvorak and Ann Swenson will speak and answer questions.

The 8 p.m. forum features mayoral candidates Jim Hovland and Linda Masica.

The event, at the Edina City Hall council chambers, is sponsored by the League of Women Voters Edina.

2.6K walk for bone healthTo increase awareness of bone health and the debilitating effects of fractures, American Bone Health is hosting the first 2.6K bone health walk and clinic for people of all ages and abilities at 8:45 a.m. Saturday at Southdale Center in Edina.

The 2.6K walk route along the Southdale concourse recognizes the 26 bones in the human spine and is intended as a reminder to protect them from bone breaks. Information on bone health will be available along the walk, which is free and open to the public.

Preregistration is now available. For more information, go to www.americanbonehealth. org or call 888-266-3015.

'Open to Business' walk-in hoursThe city of Edina is offering business consultations from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month in the Mill Room at Edina City Hall, 4801 W. 50th St.

"Open to Business" provides one-on-one consultation and financing packages to people who want to open a business or already have one.

The free consultations are offered by Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers business advisor Rob Smolund. Entrepreneurs are encouraged to make an appointment in advance by calling Smolund at 612-789-7337, ext. 11.