West news briefs: Fundraising starts to buy Edina's 'Spaulding'

A fundraising drive to buy Spaulding the dog, a bronze statue by Heidi Hoy that has become a favorite in the 50th & France neighborhood during its yearlong temporary display, begins Sept. 18 when Salut Bar Americain in Edina will donate 10 percent of the day's profits toward the purchase of the sculpture.

The Edina Public Art Committee rents sculptures and other public art and displays it in different parts of the city for a year at a time. Spaulding, who stands outside SALUT, has become so popular that the city wants to keep him. Buying Spaulding will cost $7,650, with fundraising culminating on Oct. 26 at the city's annual Pumpkin Fest.

Many groups are involved in the fundraising effort. Checks payable to the Edina Community Foundation, with reference to "Spaulding," will be collected at Salut or can be mailed to the Edina Community Foundation at 5280 Grandview Square, Suite 101, Edina, MN 55436.

Emergency center seeks funding support

Groundbreaking will be at 3 p.m. Monday for Fairview Southdale Hospital's state-of-the-art emergency center.

Meanwhile, the hospital is asking for community support for the project. Supporters have contributed $7.5 million to the project to date, but more help is needed, hospital representatives said last week. The Fairview Foundation hopes to raise $15 million by the end of 2014. Total cost is estimated at $39 million.

"It's an ambitious project, and to build the very best, we need to partner with the communities we serve to raise an additional $7.5 million in the next 18 months," said Larry Laukka, the volunteer chairing the fundraising campaign.

The center, which will open in 2015, will be called the Carl N. Platou Emergency Center, in memory of the former Fairview president who pioneered the development of Fairview Southdale.

People Responding in Social Ministry (PRISM) will hold a silent auction and dinner Friday at Good Shepherd Church, 145 Jersey Av. S., Golden Valley.

The event will be catered by Pickles Cafe & Catering. Appetizers from Mama Donato's Woodfire Pizza will be served at 5 p.m. A dinner of mostaccioli, Italian sausage and peppers, meatballs, fresh mixed greens and cannoli will be served at 6:15 p.m.

The dinner will be held in association with a golf event at 12:30 p.m. at Brookview Golf Course. The cost for the golf event and dinner is $100. Dinner only is $25.

All proceeds will support PRISM programs, including a food shelf, a clothing closet, the PRISM Express transportation service and a car ownership program.

Valley View Cooperative, a 55-and-older community in Eden Prairie, will hold an open house from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday for people interested in learning about retirement cooperatives, an alternative to renting.

Home tours will be available and co-op members will be on hand to talk to visitors. Refreshments will be offered and there will be a drawing for cash prizes.

The building is near Lake Smetana, near many conveniences. Share price ownership begins at $36,700. Twelve floor plans are available, all with private decks.

To RSVP for the open house, call 952-943-9463; walk-ins are also welcome.

The Eden Prairie Players will perform "A Collection of One Acts" starting on Friday.

Shows start at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sept. 19-21, and at 2 p.m. Sunday and Sept. 22. Tickets cost $13 at edenprairieplayers.com or $15 at the door (on Sept. 19, the show will be a "pay what you can" admission). More information at www.edenprairieplayers.com.

The Minnetonka Rotary Club will sponsor a charity golf outing on Saturday, Sept. 21 at Glen Lake Golf Course, 14350 County Road 62 in Minnetonka.

The event, called Birdies and Beers, will raise money for youth projects in Hopkins and Minnetonka.

The event's shotgun start will be at 2 p.m., with registration starting at 1 p.m. The event will include nine holes of golf, with prizes for a putting and driving contest. There will also be a $10,000 prize for a hole-in-one. Beer tasting, food service, raffles and a silent auction will run through 8 p.m.

Beers for tasting will come from Excelsior Brewing, Surly Brewing, Rock Bottom Brewery, Lucid Brewing and Town Hall Brewery. Food will be provided by Tuttles of Hopkins.

To register, go to https://minnetonka-rotary.ticketbud.com/golf-outing.

The Minnetonka Center for the Arts is holding its annual faculty art exhibit through Sept. 19, with an opening reception scheduled from 6-8 p.m. Thursday.

Gallery hours are 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday, Friday and Saturday and 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

The Minnetonka Center for the Arts is at 2240 North Shore Dr. in Wayzata. Call 952-473-7361 for information.

Volunteers are needed for three-hour shifts during Open Streets at Penn Fest on Sunday, in which Penn Avenue will be closed to vehicles from W. 62nd St. to W. 76th St. and bikers, walkers, dancers and festivities will take their place.

People who want to volunteer can contact Ann Hoffer, Richfield recreation supervisor, at 612-861-9361 or at ahoffer@cityofrichfield.org.

For more information about Penn Fest, visit Penn Central of Richfield website at www.penncentralofrichfield.com.

The Edina City Council last week approved an agreement to begin providing 911 dispatch service to Richfield sometime around Dec. 1.

Richfield will pay Edina a base charge of $14,058 per month through 2014. Richfield also will pay one-time transition costs of about $49,000.

Parking at 50th & France is the topic of an open house on Sept. 18 in the lower level banquet room at Mozza Mia, 3910 W. 50th St., from 5 to 7 p.m.

The session will be informal, and business owners, customers and neighbors are encouraged to give their opinions, hear about the project and come and go as they please.

For more information about the project or the open house, contact Economic Development Manager Bill Neuendorf at 952-826-0407 or BNeuendorf@EdinaMN.gov.

The Bloomington Human Rights Commission will mark the International Day of Peace on Monday with a speech by TV personality Joan Steffend.

Steffend, the author of "Peace In Peace Out," will speak from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Bloomington Civic Plaza about how to achieve peace within ourselves and how to spread that peace to others.

Dessert, coffee and tea will be served at this free event, but people are asked to register by calling 952-563-4948 or by e-mailing reservations@ci.bloomington.mn.us. Civic Plaza is at 1800 W. Old Shakopee Road.

The weekend cruises will depart from Excelsior's city dock and include hourlong tours along the shoreline of Lake Minnetonka. The boat leaves at 12:40, 2 and 3:20 p.m. Cost is $10 for ages 13 and up and $5 for children age 4-12.

For more information, go to www.steamboatminnehaha.org.

The deadline is 4 p.m. Friday for artists who wish to display or sell their work at this year's Plymouth Arts Fair.

The event will be from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 16 and noon-5 p.m. Nov. 17 at the Plymouth Creek Center, 14800 34th Av. N.

A jury will select artists to be featured at the fair. Selected artists will receive a 10-by-10-foot space with a table and two chairs. The event will be held in the ballroom, meeting room and foyer of the Plymouth Creek Center.

The Plymouth Parks and Recreation Department is seeking vendors for its second-annual Pet Expo from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 26 at the Plymouth Creek Center Fieldhouse, 14800 34th Av. N.

Vendors that offer pet care, merchandise or expertise, or any product or service relating to domestic pets, are needed.

The Pet Expo last year had 25 vendors and almost 900 visitors. Again this year the Twin Cities Disc Dog Club will hold the Skyhoundz DiscDogathon, a Frisbee competition, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The Plymouth Police Department will also hold K-9 demonstrations.

For information or to apply, go to www.plymouthmn.gov/PetExpo or call 763-509-5200. Registration deadline is Oct. 11.

STAFF REPORTS