Hot Topics: April 25, 2008

Coming Up...

Highland Road closed April 28 (New!)

On Monday, April 28, Highland Road from Lynn Terrace to Excelsior Boulevard will be closed for approximately eight hours for water line replacement. Learn more.

Council meeting set for May 5 (New!)

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Minnetonka City Council is Monday, May 5, 2008, at 6:30 p.m. in the council chambers, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd., Minnetonka. Regular city council meetings are broadcast live on cable channel 16. Agendas and minutes are posted on the city council meetings page. For more information call 952.939.8200.

Severe Weather Awareness Week

This week was Severe Weather Awareness Week, with each day focusing on a different topic. Learn more.

Spring plant walks set for April and May

Take a guided plant walk in a Minnetonka park where native habitat restoration is underway. Learn more.

Silver Skates Ice Revue is May 1, 2 and 3

Minnetonka Ice Arena’s All Season Skating School is proud to present the 34th Annual Silver Skates Ice Revue, “Lights on Broadway.” Learn more.

City tree sale pick up is May 2 and 3

If you ordered trees through the city of Minnetonka’s tree sale, be sure to pick them up on May 2 or 3! Learn more.

Visit these May senior services events

If you’re a Minnetonka resident who’s 55 or older, don’t miss out on the fun and friendship at Minnetonka Senior Services with these upcoming May events. Learn more.

One hundred years of Lake Minnetonka postcards

Enjoy a brief history of postcards from the early glory years of Lake Minnetonka to current times, presented by Twin City Postcard Club Vice President and Minnetonka resident Chuck Donley, Thursday, May 1, at 7 p.m. at the Minnetonka Community Center. Learn more.

City tree sale pickup is May 2 and 3 (New!)

If you ordered trees through the city of Minnetonka tree sale, be sure to pick them up on either Friday, May 2, or Saturday, May 3, at Minnetonka Public Works. Learn more.

Celebrate Arbor Month May 13 (New!)

Celebrate Arbor Month Tuesday, May 13, 5:30–7:30 p.m., at Lone Lake Park, and help reforest areas where trees have been lost in the last few years to storm and disease. Learn more.

Register for a rain garden workshop

If you’re interested in learning how to manage yard runoff by installing a rain garden, consider attending a Metro Blooms rain garden workshop. Learn more.

Skating lessons start June 9

Interested in skating lessons? Summer skating lessons for both youth and adults are held Monday evenings starting June 9. Learn more.

Project Center

Glen Lake streetscaping plan presented April 22 (New!)

The city of Minnetonka hosted a meeting Tuesday, April 22, at the Glen Lake Activity Center for public comment and feedback on the planned streetscaping, plaza, and pedestrian improvements in Glen Lake. Learn more.

Curious about city construction?

If you have questions about construction projects in the city—from roads, to sewer and water utilities, to drainage and storm sewer—visit our City Projects page to find out everything you want to know. Learn more.

Public Safety

Minnetonka firefighter honored by American Red Cross (New!)

On Tuesday, April 22, the Twin Cities Area Chapter of the American Red Cross honored Minnetonka Firefighter Ted Juern for his outstanding work on the ReadyMinnetonka program. Learn more.

Take a stand against crime: join a Neighborhood Watch

Neighborhood Watch, Block Watch, Town Watch, Building Watch, Crime Watch—whatever the name, it’s one of the most effective and least costly ways to prevent crime and reduce fear. Learn more.

News You Can Use

Neighborhood alert: dogs found (New!)

The Minnetonka Police Department thanks you for your help in locating dogs that were seen in the vicinity of Scenic Heights Elementary and a residence where a small dog was attacked and seriously injured. The owners have voluntarily come forward and are cooperating.

Minnetonka City Council adopts U.S. Conference of Mayors climate protection agreement (New!)

At its April 21 regular meeting, the Minnetonka City Council adopted the U.S. Conference of Mayors climate protection agreement, which includes pledging to strive to meet or exceed Kyoto Protocol targets for reducing global warming pollution. Learn more.

35 residents attend Earth Day tree care clinic (New!)

The evening of April 22, 35 residents arrived at Big Willow Park to learn the best practices for tree planting and small tree care. Learn more.

Help keep Minnetonka clean! (New!)

If you’d like to do your part to give Minnetonka a spring cleaning, and keep it clean year-round, consider adopting a park, trail, wetland, neighborhood or roadway. Learn more.

Free wood mulch available to residents (New!)

Free wood mulch is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in a bin on the east side of Minnetonka Public Works. Learn more.

Recreational fire permits available (New!)

With the arrival of spring, the fire department begins receiving calls about recreational campfires in the city: a recreational fire permit is required. Learn more.

Know who to call about potholes (New!)

It’s spring, and many motorists want to know who to call about potholes on their local streets. Learn more.

Register now for the Burwell Antique Market (New!)

Antique vendors are invited to apply to exhibit at the 2008 Burwell House Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Social Saturday, June 28. Learn more.

2008 Burwell Art Fair applications due May 15

Artists, you’re invited to apply to exhibit at the Burwell House Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Social Saturday, June 28, 2008. Learn more.

Water main flushing started April 14

Minnetonka Public Works will flush city water mains weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., which started April 14 and continues through May 8. Learn more.

Spring load restrictions in effect

Spring load restrictions for area roads went into effect Friday, March 14, at 12:01 a.m. Learn more.

Wanted: history lovers

If you’ve thought about being a tour guide, consider volunteering at the Burwell House this year. Learn more.

Need emergency home repairs?

If your home is in need of emergency repairs, you may be eligible for a loan if you meet certain income restrictions. Learn more.

Get Active

Gray’s Bay Marina and public launch now open (New!)

The Gray’s Bay Marina and public launch opened for the 2008 season Monday, April 21. Learn more.

Canoe Minnehaha Creek! (New!)

The city of Minnetonka and Three Rivers Park District have teamed up to offer canoe rentals for use on Minnehaha Creek Saturdays and Sundays, April 26 through May 26. Learn more.

Get a discount on membership fees when you workout at Williston!

The Williston Fitness Center is proud to announce their partnership with MEDICA, Blue Cross Blue Shield of MN, HealthPartners, UCARE of MN, and Definity. Learn more.

Register now for summer adult basketball

Minnetonka Recreation Services is accepting team registrations for a seven-week, five-player summer adult basketball program. Learn more.

Plan now for summer fun!

It’s never too early to make plans for the summer and Recreation Services is now accepting registrations for a new offering—Summer Theater Camp for Kids—and an old favorite—Adult co-rec summer soccer. Learn more.

Summer recreation registration underway

Summer recreation registration started March 10 for residents and March 24 for non-residents. Learn more.

History Fact

What was the unofficial name of Thomas Avenue in the late 1970’s?

Oftentimes, Minnetonka’s street construction or maintenance workers gave the streets on which they were working unofficial names, usually related to a dominant feature of the street or a prominent family that lived on the street.

Thomas Avenue became known as “Be Be Shoppe Road” in the 1970’s because of its most famous resident, Beatrice Bella Shopp, who was crowned Miss America in 1948. She retained the distinction of being Minnesota’s only Miss America until 1977, when Edina resident Dorothy Benham earned that title.