ANDOVER

Bike-helmet sale, fitting set for June 19

Safe Kids Anoka County is sponsoring a bike helmet sale and fitting from 4 to 7 p.m. next Wednesday, June 19, at the Anoka County Sheriff's Office, 13301 Hanson Blvd. NW in Andover.

The helmets for sale are Bell Tru-Fits, available in all sizes from toddler on up. They're $13 each, first-come, first-served while supplies last.

Helmet fittings are free, and no appointment is necessary.

COON RAPIDS

Groundbreaking today for senior housing

Coon Rapids will hold a groundbreaking at 2 p.m. today for Autumn Glen Senior Housing, an assisted-living complex, at the former Frank's Nursery site.

The $19 million redevelopment will take about one year, with an anticipated opening in the summer of 2014, the city says. The project received $420,000 in tax-increment financing from the city to assist with site demolition and cleanup.

The complex will be built on the east side of Round Lake Boulevard near Coon Rapids Boulevard.

ANOKA

Sunday Concerts in the Park underway

Sunday night Concerts in the Park began this month in Anoka. The free, hour-long events start at 7 p.m. at George Green Park, 1498 Sixth Av., at the Bicentennial Band Shell in the southwest corner.

The HiBs play this Sunday, followed by CODA on June 23 and the Legendary Percolators Live Band on June 30.

ANOKA-HENNEPIN SCHOOL DISTRICT

Program offers kids free summer meals

Children in the Anoka-Hennepin School District will have access to free meals this summer through the district's Child Nutrition Program and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Summer Food Service Program.

Anoka-Hennepin will offer free meals for all children ages 2 to 18 at 14 locations. Adults may purchase meals with correct cash only. Adult meal prices are $3.50 for lunch or brunch, $2 for breakfast, and $1 for snacks. All meals must be eaten at the site. For more information about locations or the program, call 763-506-1240.

ANOKA COUNTY

Residents exceed 2012 recycling goal

County residents recycled nearly 34,000 tons of materials in 2012, exceeding their goal by 14 percent.

"It's remarkable to look at the recycling totals countywide in 1988, when we were just getting started, and compare it with where we are today," said County Commissioner Jim Kordiak, who chairs the county's Waste Management and Energy Committee. "We've gone from 4,734 tons of recycled materials back then to today's impressive total."

The city of East Bethel received special recognition for having the most improved municipal recycling program in the county, increasing recycling totals from 158.32 pounds per resident in 2011 to 176.61 pounds in 2012

Andover was cited for having the most prolific municipal recycling program in the County. It had a recycling rate of more than 312 pounds per resident per year for all materials. Andover promotes recycling through the city newsletter and website, cable TV, ads in the local newspaper and movie theater, and fliers. In 2012, more than 411 tons of material were collected at the city's drop-off recycling center and at spring and fall recycling events.

Anoka-Ramsey Community College

Instructor earns McKnight fellowship

Anthony Marchetti, an adjunct photography instructor at Anoka-Ramsey Community College, is one of four recipients of the 2013-14 McKnight Artist Fellowships for Photographers.

The $25,000 fellowships support midcareer artists who live in Minnesota and "use photography as a primary means of creative, personal expression."

Marchetti, who also is a faculty member at the Art Institutes International Minnesota and an adjunct instructor at the University of Minnesota, says the fellowship will help him with a project that involves extensive travel.

This year's other fellows are Paula McCartney and Mohamud Mumin, both of Minneapolis, and Alec Soth of St. Paul.

BLAINE

Student wins farmers market design contest

China Eubanks, a Blaine High School sophomore, has won the Minneapolis Farmers Market's inaugural reusable bag design contest. She'll receive a $1,000 scholarship from the farmers market and COUNTRY Financial as a grand prize.

Her design will appear on thousands of reusable canvas bags that will be distributed for free at the market throughout the summer.

The design needed to fit the theme "Sprouts in the City," and include the words "2013 Minneapolis Farmers Market."

BROOKLYN PARK

Tater Daze coming, has 'Diversity Fest'

Brooklyn Park's annual Tater Daze festival will be held Thursday through Sunday at Noble Sports Park, 4701 Oak Grove Pkwy.

The festival will feature carnival rides, petting zoo, teen bands battle and dance, parade, lots of food and more.

The event pays homage to the potatoes that flourished in the city's flat, sandy soil in years gone by.

Also featured this year will be a Diversity Fest, from 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday. The goal is to promote cultural understanding and celebrate the city's diversity. The Fest, intended to become an annual event, will feature ethnic foods, costumes, singers and dancers, crafts and cultural displays.