Briefs: Open house Thursday on Hwy. 169 interchange in Brooklyn Park

An open house will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Brooklyn Park City Hall on the interchange construction project at Hwy. 169 and County Road 30/93 in Brooklyn Park.

Attendees will get a chance to hear about the project and view project plans, detour routes and the construction schedule. Representatives from the Minnesota Department of Transportation, the city of Brooklyn Park and ­Hennepin County will be on hand.

The project is scheduled to begin on April 1 and be completed by early November. Further information is available at www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/projects/hwy169brooklynpark.

The city will hold an "Open Book Meeting," an informal appeal process at which property owners can meet one-on-one with an assessor to discuss the valuation or classification of their property. The session will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall, 4141 Douglas Dr. N.

The North Suburban Home Improvement Show is scheduled for this Saturday at the Andover YMCA Community Center field house.

The show is sponsored by the cities of Andover, Anoka and Coon Rapids. In addition to an array of exhibitors, city officials also will be on hand.

There will be a chance to talk with city building officials about home improvement projects. Demonstration sessions, door prizes and a kids' workshop will be offered.

The Nowthen Heritage Festival Committee will hold a pancake breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday in the Nowthen Alliance Church dining room. A freewill donation will be accepted, with proceeds going to help fund the annual Nowthen Heritage Festival. Pancakes, scrambled eggs, hash browns, sausages and beverages will be served.

The Heritage Festival is scheduled for Sept. 28.

Columbia Heights is looking for singing talent for its Seventh Annual Heights Idol competitions.

The contest is open to children and adults and costs $10 a person. The first round will be held at 7 p.m. on May 16 at Murzyn Hall. Judges during the first round have musical training and coach contestants on ways to improve their performances.

The second round, open to all contestants, will be on an outdoor stage on June 29 during the Heights Jamboree City Celebration.

For more information, call 763-706-8733.

Prospective and returning students are invited to attend open houses at the two campuses of Anoka-Ramsey Community College.

Guests will be able to tour the campuses, meet with admissions and financial aid staff, preview degree programs and visit with students and campus activity groups. The events are free. No reservations are required.

The open house at the ­Cambridge campus, 300 Spirit River Dr. S., will run from 5-6:30 p.m. on April 2 at the Student Life Lobby. The open house at the Coon Rapids campus, 11200 Mississippi Blvd. NW., will run from 5-7 p.m. on April 4 in the Legacy Room.