This year is no different. The GVPD will once again collect toys, and on the last collection day, police from as many as 20 departments load their cruisers with donated gifts and meet at the GVPD. Then, lights blazing and sirens blaring, they parade to the KARE 11 Toys for Tots drop-off site. In past years the effort garnered thousands of toys.

Until Dec 17 (at 3 pm), bring new, unwrapped toys to the GVPD at 7800 Golden Valley Road (open 24 hours a day). Don’t forget gifts for older kids and teens.

The meeting will begin with introductions, followed by updates on current Bridge Builder projects, including:

• Golden Valley’s 125^th Anniversary Celebration
• Valley Volunteer Day for 2011
• Natural History Museum
• Lilac Planting Party – October 2
• Ice Cream Social – July 19
• After School in the Valley
• Garden Club – first Wednesday of the month
• Neighbors Helping Neighbors

The group will also discuss Golden Valley Connects and how to register on i-neighbors, Bridge Builder coaches, and other resources.

Volunteers can register starting at 8:30 am in the parking lot of 9010 Olson Memorial Hwy in Golden Valley. The planting will take place from 9 am to 1 pm on the north side of Hwy 55 between Boone Ave and Hwy 169. The event will conclude with a celebration lunch from 1 to 2 pm back at the registration location

Volunteers will need to bring gloves and a shovel. They can sign up the day of the event or in advance with Sandy Werts at 763-512-2314 or swerts@goldenvalleymn.gov.

Last October, volunteers gathered to plant lilacs and other shrubs along Hwy 55 between Winnetka Ave and Glenwood Ave.

The Lilac Planting Party is the brainchild of Golden Valley resident Dwight Townes, a member of Golden Valley’s Envision Connection Project Bridge Builders. Bridge Builders is a community organization that gives individuals and groups a way to connect with others who share similar interests and then mobilize them to engage in beneficiary projects. Townes initiated a partnership between Golden Valley and the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s Community Roadside Landscaping Partnership Program to bring the project to fruition.

Golden Valley resident Marshall Tanick is spearheading a Bridge Builder’s group to start planning a series of celebratory events, with ideas ranging from student essay contests to historical programs to volunteer service activities. He also suggests tweaking some existing community activities to include an anniversary component.

But to pull this off, the group will need a lot of participation, lots of good ideas, and early-on organization. A Bridge Builder’s meeting was held Sept 22 to discuss planning these events; 14 people representing a variety of Golden Valley organizations attended. The group decided to hold a series of events throughout 2011 to celebrate Golden Valley’s 125th anniversary and will form a steering committee to meet in late October and finalize plans by mid-November.

If you’re interested in helping Golden Valley and its residents make the City’s 125th birthday a memorable one, contact Sandy Werts at swerts@goldenvalleymn.gov to be put on the group’s mailing list, or call her at 763-512-2341.

Golden Valley’s Envision Connection Project Bridge Builders is a community organization that gives individuals and groups a way to connect with others who share similar interests and then mobilize them to engage in beneficiary projects.

Bring your gardening gloves and favorite weeding tools, meet your neighbors, work together and help improve the community. Free ice cream will be provided to all who pitch in.

For questions, called Barb Ego at 763-544-0897.