West news briefs: Photo contest theme is life in Chanhassen

Last week, crews wheeled a 111-year-old house about a mile in Wayzata during the early morning hours, saving it to make way for a subdivision.

The Wise House, built by Thomas Wise, a boat maker who was one of the lakeside town's first residents and city leaders, will be repurposed as a conference room and event space. The house was slated to be torn down if no one stepped up to buy it, prompting residents and preservationists to plead with the city and developer K.C. Chermak to save it. The two-story house was built in 1904 by Wise, who once worked for railroad pioneer James J. Hill and went on to help lead the growing town in the 1880s. It's one of 43 homes the Wayzata Historical Society designated as Centennial homes and one of six houses left from 1904, according to the group.

Tim Foster of the The Partners Group bought the house and moved it about a mile to commercial property at 222 Minnetonka Av. S. It is slated to get a new foundation and a face-lift, in need of new siding and windows, and a plaque is expected to be placed outside, explaining its significance in the community.

To update residents on the city's lakefront improvement project, Wayzata will host a special event Aug. 19.

It includes a preview of the new McCormick's Beachside restaurant in the beach house — which will open for regular business next spring — and an annual report on the Lake Effect, the city's long-term lakefront improvement plan. The event will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19, with a program at 6 p.m. on Wayzata beach, 220 Grove Lane E. Free ice cream will be served, with additional food and beverages available for purchase.

The Wayzata City Council is expected to approve hiring a design firm Sept. 15 from a group of three finalists, tasked with creating design plans for the city's lakefront improvement plan, which aims to make the lakefront more accessible and safer for visitors. For more information, go to wayzatalakeeffect.com.

The Chanhassen Photo Contest is accepting amateur photographers' pictures of what makes living in Chanhassen so special. This year's contest has two categories — "Community Life and Recreation" and "Youth."

The grand-prize-winning photo will be published on the cover of the Chanhassen Connection and showcased at Chanhassen City Hall. Honorable mention photos will receive awards and be placed in a Chanhassen publication or website.

The deadline for submissions is Nov. 30. For more information online go to www.ci.chanhassen.mn.us/index.aspx?nid=261 or contact Jodi Sarles, recreation center manager, at 952-227-1401.

Tickets are on sale for Prairie Brewfest, an Eden Prairie Community Foundation event focused on craft beer.

Prairie Brewfest will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, on the top deck of SouthWest Station, 13500 Technology Drive. Proceeds will benefit the operation and programs of the Community Foundation, an Eden Prairie grantmaker since 1981.

Admission costs $35 per person ($20 is tax-deductible) and includes food and entertainment. Buy tickets on the Community Foundation website, www.epcommunityfoundation.org, or at any of the three EP Liquor stores in Eden Prairie. Tickets will also be sold at the event.

For more information, go to www.prairiebrewfest.com.

The Community Foundation's mission is to enrich Eden Prairie through philanthropy, collaboration and leadership.

The Minnehaha Creek Watershed District will honor residents and groups for their work to improve the quality of lakes, streams and wetlands at an annual Oct. 1 ceremony.

The 2015 Watershed Heroes Awards, which is open to the public, will start at 6:30 p.m. at the Bayview Event Center in Excelsior with a reception followed by a 7:30 p.m. program with emcee, WCCO TV's Bill Hudson. Tickets cost $35 and must be reserved by Sept. 18.

This year's awards will go to Presbyterian Homes' Promenade of Wayzata, the city of Minnetrista, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center, city of Shorewood, Christmas Lake Homeowners Association, the Master Water Stewards Program of the Freshwater Society, Florian and Linda Mae Kerbers, Glen Nelson and John Barten, who will receive a lifetime stewardship award.

Residents and business owners are invited to comment on proposals to regulate point-of-sale plastic bag use in the city. A public listening session with City Council members will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2, at the Rec Center banquet room, 3700 Monterey Drive.

Those unable to attend may send comments to Kala Fisher, solid waste program coordinator, at kfisher@stlouispark.org or call 952-924-2183.