West news briefs: Minnetonka thrift shop celebrates 20 years

Thrift shop celebrates 20th anniversaryBethesda Lutheran Communities and its Minnetonka Thrift Shop at 4749 County Road 101 are celebrating their 20th anniversary with a three-day sale Thursday-Saturday.

Clothing, shoes and boots will be half-price on Thursday and Friday and reduced to $1 on Saturday. There also will be prizes and activities for children. The store will award two $25 merchandise gift certificates to shoppers each day and have door-prize drawings for six gift baskets.

The thrift shop has operated at the location in Minnetonka since April 2010, when it relocated from Hopkins. Profits help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who receive services from Bethesda Lutheran Communities.

IOCP launches March food driveNext month, Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners is aiming to collect 90,000 pounds of food and raise $90,000.

To donate, drop off items from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 1605 County Road 101 N. The nonprofit also encourages businesses, churches, schools or other organizations to collect items and form a sculpture out of them; photos of the sculptures will be posted online to vote on.

The Mosaic Company Foundation also will match each pound of donated food with a $1 donation to IOCP up to $20,000.

For more information, go to www.iocp.org/mn-foodshare.

Plymouth's Healthy Living Fair will take place from 1-4 p.m. March 10 at the Plymouth Creek Activity Center, 14800 34th Av. N., Plymouth. The free fair, hosted by the city of Plymouth and Abbott Northwestern-WestHealth, is open to the public.

More than 30 medical, health, fitness and wellness industry exhibitors will be on hand to answer questions. They include Plymouth Parks and Recreation, Park Nicollet Clinic, Anytime Fitness-Plymouth, Walgreens and YogaStudio of Plymouth.

Chamber plans 5K fundraising fun runThe Excelsior-Lake Minnetonka Chamber of Commerce will play host to a 5K run March 16.

The 2013 Jake O'Connor's Luck o' the Lake 5K Fun Run will take place at 9 a.m. March 16, starting at the Excelsior Brewery. The event, which will be a fundraiser for the chamber, costs $25 to enter or $35 after March 14. The fee will include a T-shirt, race bag and free beverage.

Go to www.startribune.com/a2058 for more details or to register.

After one this month, the city's next meetings will take place April 8 and June 10 at the Orono Council Chambers, 2780 Kelley Parkway. To be notified by e-mail of upcoming meetings or be provided with regular updates about Navarre, sign up for Navarre Area Updates under "Stay Connected -- E-mail Updates" on the Orono website at www.ci.orono.mn.us. Or contact City Hall at 952-249-4600.

St. David's Center holds 24th annual galaSt. David's Center for Child & Family Development will hold its 2013 Make Them Shine Gala on March 9 at International Market Square in Minneapolis.

The 24th annual event raises money for critically needed early-intervention services for Twin Cities children and their families. More than 500 people are expected to attend, including U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar and 2010 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee John Randle.

Starting at 5 p.m., the exclusive VIP sponsor reception includes live music by the George Maurer Trio, wine tasting with Mpls.-St. Paul magazine wine critic Bill Coy and craft beer tasting with Thorpe Distributing. The gala begins at 6 p.m. and includes hors d'oeuvres, a silent auction, cash bar, dinner and a live auction.

Tickets cost $150; a table sponsorship for 10 costs $1,750 and includes two tickets to the exclusive VIP sponsor reception. Reservations and donations can be made at www.stdavidscenter.org/gala. Tickets must be reserved by March 1.

Godfrey was born a slave in the free territory that became Minnesota and later played a controversial role in the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862.

Advance copies of the book will be available for sale and signing. The event is sponsored by the Pond Dakota Historical Society, the Bloomington Historical Society and the Bloomington Human Rights Commission.

To register, call 952-563-4948 or e-mail reservations@ci.bloomington.mn.us.

Bottineau light-rail information meetingsThe Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board is holding two community meetings on the proposed Bottineau Transitway, which would run 13 miles from Minneapolis through Golden Valley, Robbinsdale, Crystal and Brooklyn Park.

The meetings -- on Wednesday, Feb. 27, from 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturday, March 2, from noon to 2 p.m. -- are at Minneapolis park headquarters at 2117 West River Road in Minneapolis. They are intended to help the public understand the issues surrounding the light-rail line, which would skirt Theodore Wirth Park.

Junior League will bowl for literacyThe Junior League of Minneapolis' annual Books4Bowling fundraiser for literacy is scheduled from 12:30 to 4 p.m. Sunday at The Park Tavern, 3401 Louisiana Av. S.

The event raises money for Read Indeed, a Hopkins-based nonprofit that distributes books to needy children.

A donation of $10 or 10 books is required to participate. Prizes will be awarded for best bowling team name and best scores. Pizza will be served, and all ages are welcome.

Read Indeed was founded by Maria Keller, a book-loving seventh-grader who has vowed to collect and distribute 1 million books around the world by the time she's 18. So far, the group has distributed more than 789,000 books.

Dance group observes 10th anniversaryLa Danse Fatale, a youth ballet company, will celebrate its 10th anniversary with performances at the Eden Prairie High School Performing Arts Center at 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.

Tickets are $17 for adults and $13 for students and seniors.