West news briefs: Golden Valley City Council seeks applicants for vacancy

City Council seeks applicants for vacancyWith Council Member Mike Freiberg leaving the City Council to go to the state Legislature, Golden Valley is seeking applicants to fill his council seat.

The new member will be appointed by the four remaining council members, and will join the council in January and serve at least until the end of 2013. City government experience and involvement in city affairs will be important considerations in the selection process.

A special election to fill the seat for the remaining two years of its term will be held on Nov. 5, 2013.

More information is available from Judy Nally at 763-593-3991 or online at www.goldenvalleymn.gov/council/index.php.

Applications, including a current resume, are due by 4:30 p.m. Dec. 7.

Environmental forum set for the Twin CitiesIn response to an executive order from Gov. Mark Dayton, the Environmental Quality Board is having citizen forums around the state as part of a project to evaluate the state's performance and progress on protecting air, water, land and energy resources.

The Twin Cities forum is from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Kopp Student Union of Normandale Community College, 9700 France Av. S. It is open to everyone.

Junior League plans Breakfast with SantaTickets are now available for the Junior League of Minneapolis' Breakfast with Santa on Dec. 2 at the Minnesota Valley Country Club, 6300 Auto Club Road.

All proceeds go to league programs and services aimed at closing the achievement gap among Minneapolis students.

Families will enjoy a holiday buffet and kids will be able to make a keepsake ornament, listen to North Pole storytellers and give Santa their wish lists while sitting in his sleigh. Seatings are at 8:30 and 11 a.m.

Tickets are $25 for adults, $17 for children ages 3 to 12, and free for children 2 and under. For more information or to purchase tickets, go to www.jlminneapolis.org and click on "Breakfast with Santa."

Store food drive raises 50% moreEdina Liquor's October food drive collected 875 pounds of food and $1,693 to benefit Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People (VEAP), a nonprofit that serves low-income, senior and disabled people in Bloomington, Edina, Richfield and south Minneapolis.

Sign-up for STEP's holiday toy programRegistration for the St. Louis Park Emergency Program's holiday toy program begins Monday and runs through Dec. 13.

Qualifying households can register during their food shelf appointments or Mondays through Thursdays from 1 to 2:30 p.m. and Tuesdays from 6 to 7 p.m. All households must bring a recent utility bill or lease that verifies their address as well as birth certificates or school verification for all children in the house.

For more information, call 952-925-4899, ext. 13.

Turkey Trot fitness hikes set for SundayLearn about the biology and habits of the wild turkey on Sunday at Wood Lake Nature Center, 6710 Lake Shore Drive.

The Turkey Trot is a vigorous walk around Wood Lake with information about how the birds have adapted to life in the city. Walks are scheduled from 1 to 2:30 p.m. and 3 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday and are limited to 20 people.

The money will be used to build water treatment ponds and restore an eroding stream channel in Plymouth that leads to Northwood Lake in New Hope, and to build a storm water pond in Golden Valley to improve discharge to Medicine Lake in Plymouth.

The board also set a special levy of $125,000 for the West Mississippi Watershed Management Commission to finance a stream stabilization project in Champlin.

Volunteers needed for advisory boardsThe Hennepin County Board of Commissioners is seeking community applicants to serve on seven citizen advisory boards.

Boards with vacancies are the Adult Mental Health Advisory Council, Community Action Partnership for Suburban Hennepin, County Extension Committee, Human Resources Board, Library Board, Three Rivers Park District Board and Workforce Investment Board.

Deadline to apply is Dec. 31, and interviews will be in January. More information is available at www.hennepin.us/advisoryboards.