ANOKA

'Ghosts of Anoka' tours start next week

Another season of "Ghosts of Anoka" walking tours will begin next week. The tours, presented by the Anoka County Historical Society, are offered on the first and third Thursdays of the month and weave "history, conjecture and fact, sprinkled with a flair for the dramatic and seasoned by good storytelling," as the society puts it.

This year's first tours will be Thursday, May 9 and 23, and Saturday, May 11 and 25. They start at 7:30 p.m. at the Anoka History Center and last about an hour and a half. Tickets are $7 for adults ($5 for Historical Society members) and $5 for children. Tours are limited to 24 people, and advance reservations are required, either at the History Center, 2135 3rd Av. N, or by calling 763-421-0600.

Lyric Arts cabaret fundraiser is May 10-11

Lyric Arts Main Street Stage in Anoka will hold its annual cabaret fundraiser with shows on Friday and Saturday, May 10-11. The show will be another salute to Broadway musicals. Doors will open at 6 p.m. each day, with a silent auction and other festivities. The show will begin at 7:30.

Tickets start at $50 and are $60 for box seats and table seating. Call 763-422-1838 or go to www.lyricarts.org

Blaine

Bike helmet sale and fitting set for May 7

The city of Blaine's Safety Services Division will sell bike helmets and host a fitting session from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 7, at City Hall, 10801 Town Square Drive NE.

Bell bike helmets, which comply with federal safety standards, will be available for $13 each, in sizes from toddler to adult. City safety staff will help fit the helmets.

For more information, contact Andrea Hunt of the Blaine Police Department at 763-785-6113 or ahunt@ci.blaine.mn.us.

Champlin

Citywide garage sale begins on Thursday

Champlin's 22nd Annual Citywide Garage Sale will take place Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Maps and sale descriptions are available at city offices and local gas stations.

During the sale, the city asks that shoppers not park in front of mailboxes and allow enough space for emergency vehicles to navigate the streets.

COLUMBIA HEIGHTS

Library Foundation fundraising effort

The Columbia Heights Public Library Foundation will hold its 2013 fundraising effort from May 10-13 in conjunction with Linder's Greenhouse Garden Center and all Flower Marts. If you make purchases there and present a coupon from the library, a portion of the money will go to the foundation to help with building a new library.

Coupons can be picked up at the library, at 820 40th Av. NE. For further information, call the library at 763-706-3690.

Golden Valley

Annual bike rodeo is this evening

The annual Bike Rodeo presented by Golden Valley, New Hope and Crystal is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 1, at the Golden Valley City Hall complex, 7800 Golden Valley Rd.

Highlights include free bike safety checks, bike skills tests, a demonstration on proper fitting of bike helmets, complimentary refreshments, music, door prizes and appearances by McGruff the Crime Dog and Sparky the Fire Dog.

North Metro

Watershed district seeks advisers

The Coon Creek Watershed District is accepting applications for volunteers interested in serving on its Citizen Advisory Committee.

The advisory committee assists the Board of Managers on issues affecting the watershed district. The committee meets at 7 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month except for July and December.

Applications are available online at www.cooncreek wd.org or by calling or writing the CCWD. Deadline is May 15.

For more information, contact Dawn Doering at 763-755-0975 or ddoering@cooncreekwd.org.

Robbinsdale schools

2 district teams reach ImagiNation globals

A pair of teams from Robbinsdale Area elementary schools have qualified for the Global round of this year's Destination ImagiNation competition. The Ostriches, from Neill Elementary School in Crystal, and Dangerous Pie, from Lakeview Elementary in Robbinsdale, will be at the competition later this month in Knoxville, Tenn.

Destination ImagiNation is an extracurricular activity in which teams of students try to solve challenges and present their solutions at tournaments.

The Ostriches and Dangerous Pie each placed second in its category at the state tourney at Champlin Park High School.

Further information on Destination ImagiNation is available at www.mndi.org.

Ramsey

Business Expo set for Saturday

Ramsey's annual Business Expo will be held Saturday at the Fountains of Ramsey Event Center, 7533 Sunwood Dr.

The free event, featuring about 50 local businesses, will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Product samples and information will be available.

For more information, contact Patrick Brama at 763-433-9903 or pbrama@ci.ramsey.mn.us.

White Bear Lake

Program will look at human trafficking

Linda Miller, executive director of the Civil Society of Minnesota, will be the guest speaker at a program on "Human Trafficking in Minnesota," set for 7 p.m. Monday, May 6, at White Bear Lake United Methodist Church, 1851 Birch St., White Bear Lake.