West metro town briefs

New Year's ice dive to be bigger than ever The Bay View Event Center at 687 Excelsior Blvd. in Excelsior will host the 20th annual ice dive into Lake Minnetonka on New Year's Day.

Same-day registration begins at 7:30 a.m., with warm-up runs and exercise beginning at 9 a.m. and the jump starting at 9:30 a.m.

Last year, 908 divers took the plunge. This year, the total could reach 1,200, organizers say, plus 400 or more spectators.

Basic entry fee is $20, which includes a buffet breakfast. Participants who pay a $35 entry fee will also get a long-sleeve shirt. Proceeds from the event will go to support community programs.

For advance registration, go to www.active.com/running/excelsior-mn/alarc-ice-dive-2010 or www.alarc.com.

Crime lab is awarded weighty accreditation A crime lab that aids Hennepin County investigators has received international accreditation for meeting hundreds of high forensic standards.

The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office crime lab, which handles 3,000 calls a year from 32 suburban police departments and other agencies, was awarded the accreditation last week by the American Society of Crime Lab Directors (ASCLD).

The achievement reflects professional standards and quality control procedures over and above those used by crime labs with the less stringent national accreditation, which the Sheriff's Office lab received five years ago. The heightened standards require more documentation and annual competency tests.

"It is imperative that people trust our lab, and certainly earning international accreditation further enhances the lab's outstanding reputation," said Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek.

An assessment team followed the lab for a week this past summer, evaluating lab workers, quality of management, practices and procedures. The process involved in preparing for international accreditation takes several years.

The Minneapolis Police Department crime lab received the same international accreditation from the ASCLD in October. Other local crime labs include the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension's lab in St. Paul and Target Corp.'s lab in Minneapolis.

Career, business help available at libraries Hennepin County Library is offering business and career programs throughout January at its branches.

Here's a sampling:

• HIRED job counseling and dislocated worker program: A drop-in career assessment and counseling service for anyone who needs help jump-starting a career. 2-4 p.m. Thursdays Jan. 7 and 21 and Feb. 4 and 18, Brookdale Library, 6125 Shingle Creek Parkway, Brooklyn Center.

• Test drive your business idea: One-on-one counseling to help entrepreneurs develop and understand the basics of putting together sales and financial projections and test the feasibility of a prospective business. 2-5 p.m. Jan. 19 and Feb. 16, Brookdale Library.

• Job search assistance. One-on-one help looking for a job, filling out applications and writing a résumé. 1-4:30 p.m. on Wednesdays Jan. 6-Feb. 24, Central Library, 300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis.

• Job search for those over 40. A workshop to help workers deal with the challenges of job searching. From 1-3 p.m. Jan. 6 at the Oxboro Library, 8801 Portland Av. S., Bloomington.

• SCORE small business consulting. Bring a small-business idea or problem to a SCORE counselor -- a retired member of the business community -- for free one-on-one counseling. Call 952-938-4570 to make an appointment, but walk-ins are also welcome. 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Jan. 19 and Feb. 16.

These and similar programs are also available at other libraries in the Hennepin County system. For details, go to www.hclib.org.

Put on snowshoes for 'Ar-BRRR-etum Day' The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, 3675 Arboretum Dr., Chanhassen, has designated New Year's Eve as "Ar-BRRR-etum Day" -- a celebration of winter recreation. Admission for those using the ski and snowshoe trails will be free all day on Dec. 31.

From 1 to 4 p.m., visitors will have a chance to try out snowshoe equipment and take lessons, courtesy of Hoigaard's sporting goods store. The gear will be available to use free of charge.

With 8.5 miles of cross-country ski trails and 3.3 miles of snowshoe trails, the arboretum offers a loop for snowshoeing.

Participants in the day's events will get free hot chocolate from noon to 2 p.m. plus discounts in the Arboretum Gift Store. The grounds are open from 8 a.m. to sunset.

For ski trail information, call 952-443-1400, ext. 7055.

You can spend the Eve at a beach party The Maple Grove Community Center, 12951 Weaver Lake Road, will host a New Year's Eve Family Beach Party from 6 to 10 p.m. Dec. 31.

Families can spend the evening swimming, skating, dancing or playing games such as Guitar Hero and traditional board games.

Tickets are $11 in advance or $15 at the door. For more information, call 763-494-6500 or go to www.ci.maple-grove.mn.us.

LAURIE BLAKE,

KEVIN DUCHSCHERE,

HERON MARQUEZ ESTRADA,

MARY JANE SMETANKA