West news briefs: Freedom Rider display opens Monday

Marking the 50th anniversary of the passing of the Civil Rights Act, the Bloomington Human Rights Commission is sponsoring the exhibit "Freedom Riders" at Bloomington Civic Plaza from Monday, June 23, to July 6.

Freedom Riders were civil rights activists who rode buses to the South in the early 1960s. The exhibit features photography, news coverage and first-hand audio accounts from activists, the Kennedy administration and the international community.

On Thursday, June 26, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., freedom singer and former Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee leader Bettie Mae Fikes will share reflections on the civil rights movement through storytelling, song and lecture at the Schneider Theater. The event is free, but registration is required.

For more information and to register, contact 952-563-4944, TTY 952-563-4933 or reservations@BloomingtonMN.gov.

The "Highgrove Florilegium Exhibit," depicting plants in Prince Charles' garden interpreted in 40 prints by the world's top botanic artists, will open Tuesday, June 24, at the Reedy Gallery at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. It will run through Sept. 1.

The public is invited to the exhibit's grand opening at 5:30 p.m. June 26; reservations are required by June 18 at 952-443-1405.

In related events:

• From 1 to 2 p.m. on June 25, Allen will deliver a talk, "Mania and Delirium! Plants That Drove People Crazy," exploring plant crazes such as tulipmania, fern fever and orchidelirium, in the Snyder Building Auditorium.

The events are in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of the arboretum's Andersen Horticultural Library and Snyder Building.

The city of Edina kicks off work on a plan for the commercial node at Wooddale Avenue and Valley View Road tonight with a meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the Edina Senior Center, 5280 Grandview Square. Residents and business representatives are encouraged to attend.

At the meeting, attendees will learn about the small area planning process and brainstorm about assets and opportunities in the area. The city is looking for volunteers to serve on a planning team for the area, which has been identified for possible redevelopment.

Small area plans give the city guidance on land use, transportation, housing, environmental protection and natural spaces. It will take six to eight months to develop and approve the plan.

The June topic for Edina's online discussion site, www.SpeakUp Edina.org, asks residents what they think of financial incentives for water conservation, solar panels and other conservation measures. Questions include: If the city offered a financial incentive for conservation, would residents take advantage of such a program? Why or why not? What type of incentive program would you support? Would low-interest loans, property assessments, rebates or refunds make a difference?

Minnetonka's 36th Annual Summer Festival and Burwell House Festival will take place June 28.

The events will take place at the Minnetonka Civic Center Campus, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd. It includes an 8K race and Tot Trot, tours of the Burwell House, an arts and crafts fair, a police K-9 demonstration, fireworks and live music by the Music Association of Minnetonka, Medicine Show Band, Hopkins Westwind Concert Band, Grammy-award winners the Okee Dokee Brothers and Synergy. Additional activities will be held the same day at the Burwell House Festival at 13209 E. McGinty Rd.

For more info, go to www.emin netonka.com or call Recreation Services at 952-939-8203.

Starting June 24, Minnetonka will host "Music in the Park" on Tuesdays.

For a schedule of musicians, go to www.eminnetonka.com.

The Minnetonka Rotary will hold an open house for residents of the Hopkins and Minnetonka communities from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 19, at the Gold Nugget Grille, 14401 Excelsior Blvd., Minnetonka. All who are interested in the service organization are welcome.

Among the projects important to the Minnetonka group are eradicating polio, making clean water available around the world, and helping young people via scholarships and other measures.

One of the Minnetonka Rotary's mottoes is: "The club that's more fun than you want it to be." Says the Rotary's Neal Enzenauer: "If you're wondering, 'Just what the heck does that mean?,' then you need to come to our open house, because all the goodness in the world is worthless if you can't have some fun in the process." For more information, go to www.minnetonkarotary.org.

Sealed Mindset, a New Hope-based self-defense training facility, is hosting the second annual Victory Games, a four-day camp designed to teach children leadership skills.

After 13 years on the Plymouth City Council, Bob Stein is resigning June 30.

Stein has represented the Third Ward, the southeast quadrant of Plymouth, since 2001. He previously served on the city's Planning Commission for four years and the Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority for five years. Stein and his wife plan to move to Chicago to be closer to their children and grandchildren.

Voters will elect a new council member to serve the remaining two years of Stein's term in the Nov. 4 election.

Third Ward residents interested in being on the ballot may file for office July 29 to Aug. 12 at Plymouth City Hall. Candidates must file an affidavit of candidacy and pay a $5 filing fee with the city clerk's office. City Hall is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday.