West news briefs

Skating teams score big at championships Team Braemar's Junior synchronized skating team won a gold medal at U.S. Figure Skating's 2010 National Synchronized Skating Championships March 4-6 at Mariucci Arena. It is the team's second national title in the competition in as many years.

Team Braemar is part of the Edina-based Braemar-City of Lakes Figure Skating Club. It practices at Braemar Arena.

The Junior team, made up of 20 female skaters who attend various high schools in the Twin Cities metro area, also traveled to Sweden after the Nationals to represent U.S. Figure Skating as Team USA at the 2010 World Challenge Cup for Juniors March 11-13. There, it took fourth place out of 20 elite teams from around the world.

Team Braemar's Novice synchronized skating team won a silver medal at the 2010 nationals. It includes 20 female skaters who attend metro-area middle and high schools.

The teams are coached by Pam May and Toni Swiggum.

For more information on the Braemar program, go to www.braemarfsc.org.

Thousands show up for library's first day The new Plymouth Library celebrated its grand opening on March 13, with a crowd it estimated at 1,000 people on hand for the ceremonial ribbon-cutting.

The new library is twice as big as the previous library and has 50 percent more computers and 11,000 more books and other materials.

Through the opening day, "We counted customers ... and at most times there were more than 300 customers inside," said senior librarian Trudy Hanus.

For more information, go to www.hclib.org.

Walk-in mental health clinic opens The Edina Comfort Care Mental Health Walk-in Clinic has opened at 7300 France Av. S.

Its goal is to streamline the process of providing services so patients can avoid the long waits they might experience seeking an appointment.

Support groups and wellness seminars are also offered, and the clinic will provide in-home mental health services for seniors and disabled people.

Clients can schedule an appointment by calling 952-913-5403. For details, go to www .edinacomfortcare.com.

Foundation seeks proposals for grants The Eden Prairie Foundation is seeking applications for grants and scholarships by Friday. The grants are intended to encourage nonprofit or tax-exempt programs that benefit Eden Prairie and its residents.

The foundation has awarded $1 million in grants and scholarships since it was founded in 1981. Recipients have included organizations such as Meals on Wheels and the city's fire and police departments, as well as the Eden Prairie School District and other community groups. Scholarships are awarded to high school seniors, and "the type of student we would encourage to apply for our scholarship is a student who may be ineligible for other scholarships such as academic or athletic; high GPA and class rank are not required," the foundation says.

The foundation's largest fundraiser each year is the Eden Prairie Foundation Ball, which this year is scheduled for Saturday at the Minnetonka Marriott Southwest. For information on the event, go to www.edenprairie foundation.org.

The dinner will include an all-you-can-eat buffet with three kinds of fish, potatoes, macaroni and cheese, salads, breads and desserts, all prepared by Dobo's in Loretto. It will be served by the Knights of Columbus.

The event is open to the public. Cost is $10 for adults and $6 for children under 10.

Newcomers Club plans April events The Newcomers Club of the Southwest Suburbs is sponsoring a get-together at 11:30 a.m. April 13 at the University of Minnesota Campus Club, 403 Coffman Union, 300 Washington Av. SE, Minneapolis.

RSVP to Barb Miller at 612-865-3862 or miller.barb@ gmail.com, or to Mary Chambers at 952-303-4220 or mary chambers@yahoo.com.

The club is also planning a coffee-and-conversation meeting at 11:30 a.m. April 22 at Dunn Bros. coffee shop in the Smith Douglas More House, 8107 Eden Prairie Road in Eden Prairie.

'Peace Works' workshop planned St. Luke Presbyterian Church is sponsoring a "Peace Works" workshop, promoting "Nonviolent Conflict Intervention Training for our Modern World." The session is scheduled for 8:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on April 24 at the church, located at 3121 Groveland School Road in Wayzata.

An optional skill-building session will be offered from 12:15 to 4:15 p.m. Box lunches will be available for $8.

Suggested donation for admission to the workshop is $25 to $50 and will go to support the work of the Nonviolent Peaceforce. To sign up, contact Nancy Anderson by e-mail at nancy anderson50@gmail.com or call 763-541-0244.