West news briefs: Sounds of Praise concert on April 24

A number of musicians will perform at a Sounds of Praise concert on behalf of the disability organization Joni and Friends and the St. Paul Disability Ministry at 7 p.m. Friday, April 24, at St. Michael's Lutheran Church, 9201 Normandale Blvd., Bloomington.

Among those performing will be gospel vocalist Robert Robertson, along with pianist Mary Beth Carlson; organist Jane Horn; trumpeter Josh Horn and the Special Delivery Singers. Joni Eareckson Tada, founder of Joni and Friends, will share a video greeting.

The concert is a benefit for the two sponsoring organizations, but admission is free and donations are voluntary.

The Chaska Police Department and its senior focus group will hold a Senior Expo from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 23 at the Chaska Community Center. More than 100 people attended last year. This year's event will have speakers and resource tables on a variety of health, safety, transportation, financial and legal topics.

There is no charge to attend, and a free lunch will be served. RSVP by April 15 by calling 952-448-4200 or e-mail jjanke@chaskamn.com.

The Deephaven Historical Society will sponsor a free presentation on Sunday, April 19, at Deephaven City Hall in Cottagewood. Harry Allen will talk about the history of the Cottagewood General Store, and Allen Taylor, author of "Hidden Revealed: A Sequel Account of the May 6, 1965 Tornado Outbreak," will present accounts of the worst tornado to strike the Twin Cities.

The Minnesota Streetcar Museum, one of the few "living history" museums in the Twin Cities, needs volunteers to operate the historic Minnesota streetcars at its Excelsior Streetcar Line railway.

Nancy Carlson, illustrator and author of 66 children's picture books, will read and sign books from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 2, at Market Street Station in Chanhassen.

In addition, musician Jack Pearson will perform, Sneaky the Clown and the Baron of Bubbles will entertain, and representatives from the Bloomington Theater and Arts Center will teach kids how to create their own accordion-style pocket books, drawing and painting their own images and comic characters as well as drawing specific characters from Nancy Carlson's books.

Eden Prairie Police Lt. Jim Morrow was recently awarded a lifetime achievement award by the Special Operations Training Association of the Upper Midwest for his work for the SWAT community.

Morrow has worked on the city's SWAT team since 1991 and spearheaded the creation of the Southwest Basic SWAT School, a training consortium of law enforcement agencies in the southwest metro. In 2013, he helped develop the Southwest Hennepin Regional Response to Mass Casualty and Active Shooter training; 270 firefighters and 35 dispatchers have been trained in the response plan.

The 19th-annual Primavera Springtime Celebration of the Arts will be held April 17-20.

For more information, go to plymouthartscouncil.org or plymouthmn.gov.

The Plymouth Fire Department awarded Fire Chief Richard C. Kline with a surprise award April 10.

The Legacy of Leadership Award was given at the department's annual recognition event.

Kline was also given a bronze speaking trumpet, which was used in the 1800s to amplify the officer's voice so firemen could hear orders and is now one of the highest honors in fire service.

Kline has "reduced response time, increased performance, and established an excellent training and full service community education programs. He is revered by the department, and … it was time to say thank you to him," said Assistant Fire Chief John Blake.

The event will take place at 8:30 a.m., followed by a second event at 4:30 p.m. at St. David's Center, 3395 Plymouth Road, Minnetonka. Nearly $13 million was raised for the renovation. Work will begin in May on the new pediatric therapy wing, gym, parking lots and outdoor areas. It includes expanding the building, adding therapy and assessment spaces, renovating classrooms and the lobby, and adding a playground and boardwalk.

For more information, go to stdavidscenter.org/campaign.

Victoria's public works department will flush the city's hydrants this month, starting on the south side of Hwy. 5 and working south and west and then to the north. Residents can watch for neighborhood signs for times work is going on in their neighborhoods.

Hydrant flushing is necessary to test the hydrants to make sure adequate flow and pressure is available.

Flushing is also done to remove sediment from pipes in order to maintain water clarity and quality in distribution pipes.

The Citizens Climate Lobby will host interactive webinar sessions with climate scientists Katharine Hayhoe on April 22.

West metro meetings will take place at 7 p.m. April 22 at Linden Hills Co-op, 3815 Sunnyside Ave., Minneapolis, as well as at the Eden Prairie Libray, 565 Prairie Center Dr., Eden Prairie.

The Earth Day webcast, "Climate Urgency and How Heartland Farmers and Businesses Can Take the Lead" will feature Hayhoe, the director of the Climate Science Center at Texas Tech University.

For more information or locations for other local viewings, go to citizensclimatelobby-mn.org.

STAFF REPORTS