West news briefs

Progressives plan forum on civil debate An Eden Prairie High School government teacher will lead a forum next week sponsored by the Progressives on the Prairie organization on "Finding Our Common Ground: Talking Across Differences."

The session, scheduled for 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday at Eden Prairie High School, is designed to promote civil discussions among people with differing viewpoints -- conversations that "stimulate rather than infuriate."

Teacher Steve Cwodzinski will talk about how to discuss issues with passion and excitement, yet with mutual respect. Part of the evening will be devoted to role-playing and an opportunity to practice what's been taught.

Progressives on the Prairie is a civic organization whose mission is to promote "thoughtful reflection and discussion."

Candidate forums set in several cities The Bloomington League of Women Voters will host a Legislative Candidate Forum beginning at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 6 in the Bloomington City Council Chambers.

State Senate candidates will be questioned at 6:30 p.m., followed by House candidates at 8 p.m., and the audience may submit questions in writing.

The League of Women Voters South Tonka has forums scheduled next week for candidates in several city races:

• Shorewood city candidates will appear in a forum at 7 p.m. Monday at Shorewood City Hall.

• Tonka Bay city candidates have a forum scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday at Tonka Bay City Hall.

• Deephaven city candidates will have a forum at 7 p.m. Oct. 7 at Deephaven City Hall.

A similar session was held for Excelsior candidates on Tuesday.

Eden Wood Center plans open house Friendship Ventures will host a free one-hour luncheon on Oct. 12 at Eden Wood Center in Eden Prairie to share information about its programs for people with disabilities.

The noon event will provide information on Friendship Ventures programs for children and adults with developmental disabilities and how volunteers and financial support can help expand those opportunities.

Guests will have a chance to tour the center and learn more about Friendship Ventures. More information is also available at the organization's website, www.friendship ventures.org.

The public is invited, but reservations are required. RSVP to Jennie Graham by Monday at 952-852-0106 or jgraham@friendship ventures.org. Eden Wood Center is located at 6350 Indian Chief Road, Eden Prairie.

TwinWest plans annual celebration The TwinWest Chamber of Commerce is planning its 2010 annual celebration -- a chance to review the year past and look to the year ahead -- from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 6 at the Sheraton Hotel Minneapolis West, 12201 Ridgedale Drive, Minnetonka.

Keynote speaker will be Joe Reily, president of Payroll Control Systems and 2010 TwinWest entrepreneur of the year.

Cost is $45 for chamber members and $55 for nonmembers, or $400 for a table of 10.

For more information, contact Victoria Marley at 763-450-2227 or at info@twinwest.com.

Library planning gets underway Plans for a new $6.1 million Excelsior library, to be built next year at a site at 337 Water St., will be discussed at a community meeting from 6:30-8 p.m. Thursday at the SouthShore Center, 5735 Country Club Road, Shorewood.

A community advisory committee will help guide the project's design and act as liaison among library staff, architects and the community. Hennepin County Library is seeking volunteers to serve on the advisory committee. Anyone interested may pick up an application at Thursday's meeting or at the Excelsior Library beginning Friday. Application deadline is Oct. 11.

The current library at 343 Third St. was built in 1965 and has 3,746 square feet. The new library as proposed would have 7,200 square feet. Architects for the project are the 292 Design Group.

Breast cancer event set for Oct. 9 The ninth annual Living with Breast Cancer Educational Conference will be held Oct. 9 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. The conference will include seminars on prevention, treatment and survival, a resource center where participants will be able to visit with representatives of local health organizations, and a "Sense of Style" show.

For more information and to register, go to www.bcaamn.org. Registration fees range from $25 to $45.

Lilac planting party set for Saturday Golden Valley's Third Annual Hwy. 55 Lilac Planting Party is set for Saturday, and organizers are looking for volunteers who are 16 and older who can help plant lilacs and other shrubs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Volunteers need to bring gloves and shovels and can sign up by contacting Sandy Werts at 763-512-2314 or swerts@golden valleymn.gov . They also can register on planting day at 8:30 a.m. in the parking lot at 9010 Olson Memorial Hwy.

Planting will take place on the north side of Hwy. 55 between Boone Avenue and Hwy. 169, and it will conclude with a celebration lunch from 1-2 p.m.

More information is available at www.goldenvalleymn.gov/events/lilacplanting/index.php

Teens get a special month at the library Hennepin County Library is sponsoring Teen Read Month activities throughout October.

To start the month, each reader ages 12-17 can receive a fine waiver to erase up to $10 in overdue fines at their library's service desk. And if they have lost their library card they can get a replacement for free. (While the initial library card is free, a replacement card normally costs $1.)

Here are some of the events planned at the county's libraries during the month:

• Teen Guys Read Book Club at 2 p.m. on Oct. 9 at Brookdale Library, 6125 Shingle Creek Pkwy., Brooklyn Center. This program for boys in grades 6-9 is a chance to get together and talk about books with other guys. Pick up a copy of the book at the information desk.

• A Teen Center writing workshop from 7-8 p.m. on Tuesday at Franklin Library, 1314 E. Franklin Av., Minneapolis. This program for grades 6 and up will give teens a chance to complete and share a planned writing activity; or teens can bring their own writings to work on and explore possibilities for publication.

• Create Your Own Video Games from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 22 at Golden Valley Library, 830 Winnetka Av. N., Golden Valley. This program for grades 7 and up requires registration and it's limited to 10 participants. The idea is to create your own video game, exploring character development, narrative and story structure and learning technical skills necessary to create your game.

• A teen book club at 2 p.m. on Oct. 9 at Maple Grove Library, 8001 Main St. N., Maple Grove. For grades 7 and up, a chance to get together and talk about great books.

Similar programs are planned at libraries throughout the Hennepin County Library system during October. For more information, go to www.hclib.org.

Senior program offers arthritis exercise class The St. Louis Park Senior Program is offering an eight-week arthritis exercise course beginning next Tuesday. In the classes, scheduled for 3:15-4 p.m. on Tuesdays, a certified trainer will teach exercises to improve joint strength, range of motion and endurance.

In other activities, a men's breakfast group meets from 9 to 10 a.m. every Tuesday at the Lenox Community Center, 6715 Minnetonka Blvd., with speakers and programs. For more information on these and other events offered by the Senior Program, call 952-928-6444.

Staff reports