West news briefs: Plymouth sells reduced-price bike helmets

Plymouth police and fire departments are selling reduced-price bike helmets twice a month throughout the summer.

The annual Bell Bike Helmet Program began May 2 and will continue on the first and third Thursday of each month through August. Helmets range in size from toddler to extra-large adult and cost $5 to $23.

For more information, call 763-509-5198 or go to www.plymouthmn.gov.

The city of Wayzata is seeking volunteers to help plant public gardens this month.

The gardening runs May 18 from 8:30 a.m. until the planting is finished.

Volunteers will meet at Wayzata Public Works, 299 W. Wayzata Blvd., for coffee, doughnuts and instructions.

Last year, more than 90 volunteers participated in the event.

A new Edina water treatment plant has won the American Council of Engineering Companies of Minnesota's Grand Award for outstanding engineering projects.

The plant, which was finished in 2012, also won honorable recognition at a national meeting in Washington, D.C.

The treatment plant was built in the lower level of the municipal parking ramp adjacent to Jerry's Foods in the GrandView District, at a cost of $5.9 million. City officials said the project was challenging because it was built inside a building.

The contractor, Municipal Builders Inc., won an Excellence in Construction award in January from the Associated Builders and Contractors Inc. Minnesota/North Dakota Chapter.

The Edina Education Fund 2013 Golf & Tennis Classic is scheduled for May 19-20 at the Edina Country Club.

The next day the golf tournament begins at noon with registration and lunch. The shotgun start for golf begins at 1 p.m.

The tennis tournament also begins at noon with registration and refreshments, followed by round robin play from 12:30-2:30 p.m.

If you are interested in playing, register online at www.edinaedfund.com or RSVP at 952-848-4222.

Cost for golf is $250 per player and for tennis is $100 per player, which includes dinner Sunday night. To attend the dinner only, cost is $75.

Tickets are on sale this month for a major classic car show taking place in Excelsior.

To get tickets, which cost $20 in advance or $25 on event day, go to www. 10000lakesconcours.com or to event sponsor locations — BMW of Minnetonka, JB Hudson Jewelers in downtown Minneapolis, Distinctive Homes Coldwell Banker Burnet Minnetonka, Jake O'Connor's Public House and Gary's First Class Car Care in Excelsior. Admission is free for children ages 12 and under and active members of the military.

Tickets include free off-site parking with a shuttle service. The event benefits the Courage Center Foundation, which supports the mission of the Golden Valley-based Courage Center.

Minnetonka residents can learn more about the native habitat restoration in the city's Purgatory Park this week.

The city is hosting a free event, "Purgatory Park Plant Walk," from 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday at the park, 17315 Excelsior Blvd. Register by calling 952-988-8400 or going to www.eminnetonka.com.

Maple Grove will host its annual Arbor Day celebration May 18.

The event also includes bird-house building, free tree seedlings and landscaping information from master gardeners and tree care advisers.

Maple Grove needs volunteers to conduct its tree inventory.

Volunteers will have to attend a training session on the emerald ash borer, complete a background check and commit to inventorying trees in a particular area of Maple Grove.

The city's goal is to inventory all residential and business boulevard trees in Maple Grove. The volunteer program is open to anyone in or outside of Maple Grove. All training and equipment will be provided.

To sign up or get more information, contact Frank Kampel at 763-494-6365 or e-mail fkampel@maplegrovemn.gov.

The sale features hardy perennials, annuals, vegetables, herbs and hanging baskets.

It's a fundraiser for the garden club and coincides with the opening of a historical society exhibit on the history of the garden club.

The city of Eden Prairie is accepting applications for its Students on Commissions program for next school year.

The program is open to any high school junior or senior (as of September) who lives in Eden Prairie. Applications are due May 24.

The students will be a member of one of five commissions — the Conservation Commission, the Flying Cloud Airport Advisory Commission, the Heritage Preservation Commission, the Human Rights and Diversity Commission, or the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission.

The Blair's Tree of Hope Foundation is hosting its first "Interpretations of Hope" fund­raising event beginning at 6:30 p.m. May 18 at the Airport Hilton in Bloomington.

Guests will start off with wine tasting from 6:30-7:30 p.m. There will also be live entertainment, games, a featured gallery of art pieces and a silent auction. A cash bar will be available all evening.

All proceeds will go to help fulfill the mission of Blair's Tree of Hope: to help families of children who have been hospitalized with a life-threatening illness by providing them with meals, gas cards, grocery cards, parking passes, toiletries, magazines, books and other needs.

Cost is $40 per person in advance or $50 per guest at the door. You can RSVP and purchase a ticket at www.blairs treeofhope.org.

The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum will present "An Evening with Paul James" from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 8.

Though he's no longer producing the show, James continues to make personal appearances across the country and is spokesman for National Public Gardens Day, which will be celebrated Friday, May 10, at the Arboretum.

The May 8 event will be free for Arboretum members and free with gate admission of $12 for non-members.

Arboretum admission will be free on May 10, National Gardening Day.