West news briefs: Open house planned on Four Seasons Mall

Open house planned on Four Seasons MallAn open house on redevelopment plans for the 21-acre Four Seasons Mall site at County Road 9 and Hwy. 169 will be conducted from 6-9 p.m. Thursday at the Plymouth Creek Center, 14800 34th Av. N.

The city is developing plans for how the site, currently home to a largely vacant strip mall built in 1978, might be redeveloped in coming years. More than 150 people attended a May open house on the findings of a marketing study of the site.

This week's open house will focus on "guiding principles" for the redevelopment, ranging from traffic flow, landscaping and open-space use to such choices as lighting, architecture and building materials. The city's consultant will present concept plans showing how these principles might mold the site. The presentation will be made at 6 p.m. and repeated at 7:45 p.m.

To allow time for its planning study, the Plymouth City Council passed an interim ordinance last Dec. 14 prohibiting redevelopment of the mall site for one year from that date. The city of Plymouth is working with the Bassett Creek Watershed and Hennepin County on the planning study.

For more information, go to plymouthmn.gov/four-seasons.

Concert fundraiser at Pioneers CemeteryJeremy Messersmith and Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapelles will present a benefit concert at Minneapolis' Pioneers and Soldiers Cemetery on Oct. 8.

Gates will open at 1 p.m. with Michelle and the Velvet Lapelles performing at 2 p.m. and Messersmith taking the stage at 4 p.m.

The Pioneers and Soldiers Cemetery was established in 1853 and is the oldest cemetery in Minneapolis and the only cemetery in Minnesota listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is the final resting place of nearly 20,000 pioneers, veterans and immigrants.

Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the performance (age 12 and under admitted free), and they may be purchased at Electric Fetus, Hymie's Vintage Records, Treehouse Records and online at www.friends ofthecemetery.org.

The cemetery is located at 2925 Cedar Av. S. Free parking will be available at the Greenway Office Building at 2801 21st Av. S. and at the Community Education Services Building at 2225 E. Lake St. On-street parking also will be available.

Arboretum Harvest Sale is this weekendThe Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Auxiliary's Harvest Sale this weekend will feature handcrafted arrangements, textile arts and a chance to win a hand-stitched quilt sewn by auxiliary members.

The event will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday and include dried floral arrangements, potpourri, wreaths and handmade cards created by auxiliary members, as well as textile arts such as one-of-a-kind wool hats, purses and other accessories.

The Minnesota Herb Society Autumn Sale also is going on this weekend at the Oswald Visitor Center, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, featuring herbal crafts and products created by the Herb Society.

The arboretum is located at 3675 Arboretum Drive in Chanhassen.

Waffle dinner set for FridayThe St. Louis Park Senior Program is sponsoring its annual Belgian waffle dinner from 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Friday at the Lenox Community Center, 6715 Minnetonka Blvd.

All-you-can-eat waffles will be made from scratch and served with a variety of syrups and sausage.

Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Lenox for $6.50 per person or at the door for $7. Children age 5 and under can eat for free. Carry-out will be available.

For more information, go to 952-928-6444.

Preschooler program is Oct. 4 at arboretum"Pea Pods for Preschoolers" will get underway Oct. 4 at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, giving kids a chance to learn about the plant world while having fun playing together.

The 10-session fall series will continue from Oct. 4 through Dec. 6, meeting on Tuesdays from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the Arboretum Learning Center. Activities will include planting, art projects, science and sensory discovery, outdoor adventures, music and story times.

Cost is $100 for arboretum members and $120 for non-members. This includes the gate fee for entry to the arboretum, plus snacks and project materials.

Register online at www.ar boretum.umn.edu/pre school.aspx or call 952-443-1422. The arboretum is located at 3675 Arboretum Drive in Chanhassen.

Local expert Karen Gunter will lead the class from 6:30-9 p.m. on Tuesday at the Lenox Community Center, at 6715 Minnetonka Blvd. in St. Louis Park.

Fee for the class is $10. To register, go to www.slpcom munityed.com or call 952-928-6442.

Safety training session for women will be held"NOT ME!" -- a safety training workshop offering practical self-defense techniques for women -- will be offered from 9 a.m.-noon on Oct. 8 at the Marsh, at 15000 Minnetonka Blvd. in Minnetonka.

Al Horner's safety training program will be offered to women age 13 and up. Cost will be $79 per person for those 18 and older and $59 for those age 13-17. Register in advance at www.themarsh.com or 952-935-2202.

Horner began the workshops after a friend asked him to teach his daughter some self-defense skills before she left for college. Three weeks later, she was able to use the skills to fend off an attacker. Not Me! LLC has trained thousands of people in the Twin Cities, and Horner has written a book on the subject.