West news briefs: Golf tourney, auction to benefit food shelf

Golf tourney, auction to benefit food shelfThe "Brighter Future Golf Tournament" will be held Aug. 13 at Golden Valley Golf & Country Club.

The annual event benefits PRISM, a food shelf serving Golden Valley, Robbinsdale, Crystal, New Hope and east Plymouth.

Registration is $180 for lunch, golf, dinner, and silent and live auctions. Registration is $50 for dinner and auctions only. To learn more, call 763-529-1350, ext. 103 or e-mail ejohnson@prismmpls.org.

Braille transcription class has openingsVolunteer Braille Services will offer free classes starting Sept. 18 for those interested in learning to transcribe books and other reading materials into braille. Braille enables blind and handicapped children and adults to read by touch.

Students who complete the course earn certification in Literary Braille Transcribing from the Library of Congress.

Classes are in Golden Valley; training materials and equipment are provided at no cost.

To learn more or sign up, call 763-544-2880 or e-mail vbsmn@comcast.net.

The event will be Thursday at 7 p.m. at Wayzata City Hall, 600 Rice Street E.

Senate District 33 consists of Corcoran, parts of Chanhassen, Deephaven, Excelsior, Greenwood, Independence, Long Lake, Loretto, Maple Plain, Medina, Minnetonka Beach, Minnetrista, Mound, Orono, Shorewood, Spring Park, St. Bonifacius, Tonka Bay and Wayzata. House District 33B covers Deephaven, Excelsior, Greenwood, Minnetonka Beach, Mound, Shorewood, Spring Park, St. Bonifacius, Tonka Bay and part of Chanhassen.

David Osmek and state Rep. Connie Doepke are running in the Republican primary for Senate. Cindy Pugh and state Rep. Steve Smith are running in the Republican primary for the House.

Voters can submit questions in advance to lwv.wayzata.plym outh@gmail.com. To learn more about the League of Women Voters, go to www.star tribune.com/a1565.

Meeks will speak to GOP seniorsAnnette Meeks, founder and chief executive officer of the Freedom Foundation of Minnesota, will discuss "Reinventing Government" at a meeting Tuesday of the Republican Seniors of Minnesota.

Meeks ran as a Republican for lieutenant governor in 2010.

Church sets annual rummage saleThe 91st annual Wayzata Community Church rummage sale is set for Aug. 15 and 16 at the church, 125 Wayzata Blvd E.

Shoppers can expect to find bargains on designer clothes, collectibles, jewelry, furniture, books, housewares, tools, sporting goods and more. Proceeds fund a grant program to aid children, families, education and the homeless.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday; prices are reduced the second day. Learn more at www.wayzatacommu nitychurch.org/thesale.

Utilities plan power line upgradesGreat River Energy and Xcel Energy are asking the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission to approve plans to upgrade power lines running along the south side of Chaska.

Several cities holding 'Night to Unite'Edina and Plymouth are among the west-metro communities holding Night to Unite events next Tuesday.

Night to Unite is a national crime-fighting initiative that brings neighbors together, often with block parties or events planned by their cities. Events are similar to those organized for National Night Out.

To see what's happening in your area, check your city's website.

Family Olympics comes to Rosland ParkInspired by the Summer Olympic Games, Edina is holding its own event, featuring family games, sports and exercise clinics. Some of the events: egg toss, disc golf, tug of war and relay race.

The event will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Rosland Park. A movie in the park, "The Green Hornet," will follow at dusk.

The event will include cooking demonstrations and tastings and presentations by internationally known herb experts.

The fee is $45 for Arboretum and Herb Society members and $60 for nonmembers. Learn more: www.startribune.com/a1418.

Ornamental grass collection turns 25Visitors can see the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum's Ornamental Grass Collection, visit with manager Mary Meyer and get ideas for using grasses in their own gardens at a series of monthly open houses beginning Aug. 21.

More than 200 ornamental and native grasses are in the Ornamental Grass Collection, one of the largest collections of its kind in the United States. Researchers evaluate the grasses for qualities including winter survival, flowering time and self-seeding.

Open houses are:

• 3-6 p.m. Sept. 18.

• 1-6 p.m. Oct. 10.

Meyer is author of "Ornamental Grasses for Cold Climates" which will be updated and re-released this year.

5K walk to fight distracted drivingThe Shreya R. Dixit Memorial Foundation will sponsor a 5K walk at 9 a.m. Saturday at Purgatory Creek Recreation Area, 13001 Technology Drive in Eden Prairie, to promote distraction-free driving.

Shreya Dixit was on her way home to Minneapolis for a weekend visit from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, in November 2007 when she was killed in a traffic accident caused by a distracted driver.

Learn more at the foundation website, www.shreyadixit.org.