West town briefs

Seventeen Hennepin County cities will receive $5.5 million in crime-fighting grants from federal stimulus funding. The Hennepin County Board accepted the Justice Assistance Grants from the U.S. Department of Justice on April 28.

The awards, which are based on a formula, are targeted to assist Minneapolis and suburban police departments in criminal justice efforts.

Cities that received funding include: Bloomington, $185,284 for police overtime for neighborhood, business, and youth initiatives; Eden Prairie, $71,087 for a youth diversion officer, park rangers, school programs and equipment; Edina, $36,690 for police officer overtime to increase patrols at Southdale; Golden Valley, $54,117 for bike/foot patrol overtime, homicide cold-case overtime and equipment; Hopkins, $39,900 for a digital recording system for interview rooms and squad cars.

Also, Minneapolis, $3.8 million to maintain 87 police officers from July through December; Minnetonka, $46,321 for a GPS tracking unit, surveillance system and other equipment; Plymouth, $69,252 for unit overtime, officer training, scheduling software and a speed-detection laser; Richfield, $171,525 for a SWAT vehicle, shotguns, narcotic detection dog, laser radar units and other equipment; Robbinsdale, $50,907 for retention of one police officer; and St. Louis Park, $107,777 for three school liaison officers.

The city of Edina is inviting residents to submit their best photos taken in the city during the past year in its sixth annual "Images of Edina" photo contest. Residents can submit a single photo in each of four categories: living, learning, raising families and doing business.

Winners will receive plaques from the City Council and a gift certificate and will have their artwork displayed for up to two years at Edina City Hall. Some photos may also appear in future city publications.

For an entry form, rules and information on last year's winning photos, go to www.cityofedina.com/photo contest or contact Communications Coordinator Marty Doll at 952-826-0396.

Originally, developer Tom Wartman was expected to re-open the restaurant by December 2008. The City Council extended that deadline to the end of January 2009. Wartman then asked for another extension.

Six high school artists receive scholarships The Freshwater Society will award six $500 scholarships to high school artists who competed in its annual Water is Life art contest. The artwork of 29 finalists will be on display starting at 6 p.m. today at the Gray Freshwater Center at 2500 Shadywood Road, Excelsior.

The six scholarship winners will be announced at 7 p.m. Artwork by the winners, depicting the beauty and importance of fresh water reserves, will be displayed at the Minnesota State Capitol.

Round Lake Stadium opens Saturday Eden Prairie's new $1.2 million Round Lake Stadium will open Saturday with ceremonies at 11:30 a.m. and an Eden Prairie High varsity baseball game at noon.

The new stadium, at Eden Prairie Road and Valley View Drive next to the high school, has seating for 360 people. It features fold-down stadium seats added with a $290,000 donation from the Eden Prairie Baseball Association, said Jay Lotthammer, director of Eden Prairie Parks and Recreation.

Annual plant sale begins Friday The annual Birch Island Woods plant sale begins Friday and continues through May 17 at the Picha Heritage Farm, 6649 Birch Island Road, Eden Prairie.

The 10-day sale will feature annuals, perennials, hanging baskets, heirloom and hybrid vegetables, herbs, Minnesota-hardy "Easy-Elegance" roses, trees and shrubs, all at prices the organizers say are near wholesale.

The Picha family grows all of the plants that will be sold, including the new "fanfare" impatiens, a hard-to-get, mounding variety that thrives in sun and shade.

Sale hours are from 3 p.m.- 8 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. on weekends. For more information, call 952-934-3088 or go to www.fbiw.org.

Arboretum plant sale The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum's Auxiliary Plant Sale is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the arboretum, 3675 Arboretum Drive, Chanhassen.

Miniature-gardening enthusiasts also will be able to select from an assortment of tiny plants, fairy houses and accessories.

A full plant list is available online at www.arboretum. umn.edu. For more information, go to www.arboretum.umn.edu or call 952-443-1400.

Learn about child and adolescent anxiety "Child and Adolescent Anxiety: What's Typical, What's Not and When to Seek Help," will be the topic of a seminar from 7 to 8:30 p.m. May 31 at Sabes Jewish Community Center, 4330 S. Cedar Lake Road, St. Louis Park.

Clinical psychologist Ann Layne will discuss questions about anxiety, the most commonly occurring mental health concern in children and teens. The program is part of the inaugural speaker series of Sha'arim, a non-profit learning institute for Jewish children with special needs.

Cost is $15 per person or $25 per couple. To reserve a seat, call Chad Silverman at 952-303-5276 or e-mail csilverman@shaarim.org.