North metro town briefs

ANOKA COUNTY

The Mental Wellness Campaign for Anoka County, a group of consumers, family members, community leaders and human services professionals, wants to know what county residents think about the topic of mental health.

The campaign is collecting information through the beginning of 2010, in the hope that the responses will provide a snapshot of current perceptions of mental illness in Anoka County. Call 651-280-2800 to complete the Anoka County mental wellness survey. Or complete it at www.wildersurveys.org/anoka.

For information on county mental health services, call 763-712-2911. For information on mental health services for children, call 763-712-2703. Crisis services are available at 763-755-3801.

Teenagers are invited to a free winter-break program on Dec. 30 where local author Chad Corrie will present an introduction to graphic novels. The program will take place at the Rum River Library, 4201 6th Av., Anoka.

Corrie will share tips about creating graphic novels, the writing process and getting such illustrative novels published. He will talk about books and materials that might be useful to those interested in creating their own graphic novel. There will also be time for questions from the audience.

The 1:30 p.m. program is sponsored by the Friends of Anoka County Library.

For more information, go to www.anoka.lib.mn.us

BLAINE

Rental property owners must submit license applications immediately to avoid a $60 late fee. The process has been required since last May. An inspection will be scheduled when the application is received. Landlords and tenants who are unsure whether their units are licensed can find out at 763-717-2648.

The Blaine Police Department, the Spring Lake Park-Blaine-Mounds View Fire Department and Save Kids Anoka County will host a free car-seat clinic from 4-7 p.m. Jan. 12 at SBM Fire Station No. 3, 11920 Ulysses St., Blaine. The clinic is offered by appointment only. To get your name on the schedule, call Connie Forster, fire and life safety education chief, at 763-767-4003, extension 100.

Members of the U.S. Women's National Hockey Team Fan Club are invited to submit designs for posters that will be displayed in the team's home arena at the Schwan Super Rink in Blaine. Entries must be received or delivered at the National Sports Center before 5 p.m., Jan. 4. The winners will get a hockey stick autographed by the team and a personal locker room tour. For information about the club and contest guidelines, visit www.nscsports.org or call 763-717-3243.

CENTENNIAL SCHOOLS

The Centennial school district will hold its kindergarten information night from 6-7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19, at the Performing Arts Center, 4707 North Rd., Circle Pines.

The program is for parents only. It will deal with the three district kindergarten options open to parents and their students. Those are half-day kindergarten, all-day kindergarten, and half-day kindergarten augmented by a Kids Club program. Kindergarten registration packets will be available.

There will also be information relating to readiness skills, costs, timelines and kindergarten registration dates.

CIRCLE PINES

The city of Circle Pines invites applicants for a number of panels, including the Utilities Commission, the Park Board, the Planning Commission and the Anoka County Blaine Airport Advisory Commission. Applications are available on the city website, www.circlepines.govoffice2. com. They are due by 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 6, in the Circle Pines city offices, 200 Civic Heights Circle, Circle Pines.

EAST BETHEL

A chance to ring in 2010 at the East Bethel Ice Arena will be offered from 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. on New Year's Eve.

No alcohol is allowed, but the concession stand will be open.

All children ages 18 and younger must be accompanied by an adult family member. For information, contact wendy.warren@ci.east-bethel.mn.us.

ELK RIVER SCHOOLS

The Elk River school district is moving to a new e-mail system that will cause problems for sending and receiving e-mails up until Dec. 31. District officials say they are taking steps to ensure that no e-mails are lost, but delivery times are taking longer than usual.

RAMSEY COUNTY

Trees are available for gift order to be planted in a park in the spring. The Friends of the Parks will send a seasonal gift announcement to each recipient during the holidays and, in the summer, a map showing the location of the tree.

For information, call Peggy Lynch at 651-698-4543 or visit www.friendsoftheparks.org.

RICE CREEK WATERSHED DISTRICT

The Rice Creek Watershed District Board appoints citizen members to advise watershed managers in the district, which includes parts of Anoka, Hennepin, Ramsey and Washington counties. Members also are asked to inform managers of water-related issues in their home communities. The application deadline is Jan. 29. For information, call 763-398-3070.

MARIA ELENA BACA, NORMAN DRAPER, JIM ADAMS, PAUL LEVY

NEW BRIGHTON/MOUNDS VIEW

The cities will no longer sponsor a recycling site for Christmas greenery. Residents are encouraged to contact their own trash haulers to inquire about services and schedules.

COON RAPIDS

Anoka-Ramsey Community College students and employees at the Coon Rapids campus competed in an annual food drive collection that supports Christmas Committee, Inc., a local volunteer operation serving more than 1,400 families each holiday season.

The good-spirited campus competition garnered more than 250 food and household items for local families and children in need. Students trailed for most of the contest, but rallied to a win in the final days.

Volunteers from the Anoka-Ramsey student honor society, Phi Theta Kappa, delivered the goods to the Anoka National Guard Armory.

At right: Students and Phi Theta Kappa members Angela Kealey, left, and Amanda Johnson worked hard for the volunteer effort.