West news briefs

Nonprofit offers discounted food Angel Food Ministries, a nonprofit, non-denominational organization, is offering affordable food to help those in need in Eden Prairie through its host site at Grace Church, 9301 Eden Prairie Road.

Angel Food provides brand-name food for a fraction of the typical retail price by purchasing the food in bulk and discounting it up to 50 percent.

The service is available to anyone, without income limitations, and the nonprofit will accept credit cards and food stamps as well as cash. There also are no limits on the amount that may be purchased.

To learn more about the nonprofit, call 1-888-819-3745 or go to www.angelfoodmin istries.com .

Healthy youth seminars planned "Not Our Kids," part of the "Healthy Youth, Healthy Communities" program of Jewish Family and Children's Service of Minneapolis, will be presented from 12:30 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Temple Israel, 2324 Emerson Av. S., Minneapolis.

The conference is aimed at anyone interested in promoting the rearing of healthy youth, including parents and grandparents, educators and clergy, and other professionals.

For more information or to register, go to www.wix.com/jfcsmpls/notourkids .

The cooperative, designed for independent seniors age 55 and older, is at 12 6th St. NE., Osseo. For more information, call 763-425-4201.

Police plan forum on sex offenders While Chaska does not have any Level 3 sex offenders living in the city, it does have level 1 and 2 offenders, and the Chaska Police Department has decided to hold a Town Hall forum to explain to residents how the risk rating system used by the state works.

It will conduct the forum beginning with a free dinner at 6 p.m. and a program from 7-9 p.m. Monday at the Chaska Community Center, 1661 Park Ridge Drive.

Topics to be covered include risk-level definitions, how police can share information about offenders living within a community, and how citizens can protect their families. The discussion will be led by Chaska Police Chief Scott Knight and other police and corrections officials.

To RSVP for dinner, call 952-227-7430. Free child care is also available but must be arranged in advance.

Customers may direct a portion of the purchase price of their books to support District 284 music programs. Student musicians will be performing. The boosters also are working with Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners to buy books for its "Free Birthday Book Shelf" for children from needy families.

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

Walks for Animals set for May 1 The 36th annual Walk for Animals, sponsored by the Animal Humane Society, is scheduled for May 1 as a fundraiser for the society.

Participants raise pledges for their walk. Money raised will help support the nearly 35,000 animals that the Animal Humane Society takes care of each year at its five Twin Cities locations.

Last year, about 8,000 walkers with 4,000 pets participated and raised more than $1 million.

Registration on May 1 will begin at 8:30 a.m., with the opening rally and walk to begin at 10 a.m.

Other activities are planned, including a "Flealess Market" and pet contests.

For more information or to register for the walk, go to www.animal humanesociety.org/walk. CHANHASSEN

Classes to help prepare for spring The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, 3675 Arboretum Drive in Chanhassen, is offering classes this spring to help with planning your yard and garden. Here's a sampling:

• "Introduction to Native Plants," 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday. A beginner-intermediate level lecture and demonstration led by instructor Douglas Owens-Pike, founder and president of EnergyScapes Inc. in Minneapolis. Also, "Intermediate Level: Selecting and Using Native Plants," 1:30-4 p.m. Saturday.

Each of these sessions is $30 for Arboretum members and $40 for nonmembers. Register at www.arboretum.umn.edu/learn.aspx or call 952-443-1422.

Senior program plans spaghetti fundraiser The St. Louis Park Senior Program is holding its annual spaghetti dinner and craft-bake sale from 4:30-7 p.m. Friday at the Lenox Community Center, 6715 Minnetonka Blvd., St. Louis Park.

The Olive Garden is catering the event.

Admission is $7.50 in advance at Lenox or $8 at the door; children under age 10 are $4.50. Take-out will be available.

For more information, call 952-928-6444.

Besides breaded, deep-fried smelt, the fixin's will include coleslaw, chips, dinner rolls, coffee and milk or pop. Beer costs extra.

The all-you-can-eat fundraiser will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Brooklyn Park National Guard Armory, 5600 85th Av. N.

Tickets are $9.50 for adults and $5 for kids 12 and under. Advance tickets for $9 may be bought from Lions members.

All proceeds will go for eyeglasses for Brooklyn Park children or for other area charitable efforts.