Briefs: Clean water forum ahead

A presentation on "Art and Music of the Civil War" is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday at the Anoka County History Center, 2135 Third Av. N., Anoka.

The presenters will be illustrator David Geister and author and musician Patricia Bauer, who together created the children's book "B is for Battle Cry: A Civil War Alphabet."

At 2 p.m. Saturday, a program on the history of the Anoka County Sheriff's Office will be held at the Rum River Library in Anoka. The event will pull from the book "Keepers of the County: Crime and the Anoka County Sheriff's Office," by Vickie Wendel. The library is located at 4201 6th Av., Anoka.

Both events are free.

The Anoka County Parks and Recreation Department is seeking a federal grant to develop a portion of the Mississippi West Regional Park. If funding is approved, the project would be the second phase in developing the regional park in Ramsey, where about 270 acres are untouched.

The public is invited to attend a Clean Water Forum on Feb. 12 at Green Haven Golf Course in Anoka.

The event, sponsored by the Anoka Rotary Club, will look at issues involving clean water and the effects that a lack of this resource can have.

• Biologist Darby Nelson, author of "For Love of Lakes," who will discuss his research on lake health in the state.

• Gene Merriam, former Department of Natural Resources commissioner, Freshwater Society president and state senator, who will talk about the importance of protecting water systems from leaves, debris and fertilizer.

• Val Johnson, founder of Action 4 Water, co-founder of H2O for Life and a member of the Water and Sanitation Rotary Action Group that aims to improve sanitation and clean water in Third World countries

• Phil Rolchigo, vice president of technology for Pentair, the company that installed a water system featuring water recycling at Target Field.

The event will begin with a buffet breakfast from 7:15 to 8:15 a.m., with the forum scheduled for 8 to 10:30 a.m.

The search for Brooklyn Park's new city manager has started. After about seven years in the post, Jamie Verbrugge resigned to take on the same role in Bloomington.

Brooklyn Park has named assistant city manager Mike Sable as interim city manager for about six months, or until a permanent replacement is hired.

Ham Lake Park will be the primary setting for Ham Lake's Snowbowl celebration on Saturday. The event is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will feature a range of activities, including a vintage snowmobile ride and expo, a dog pull contest, a medallion hunt, kids' activities, a broomball tournament, sleigh rides and more.

Purchase of a $3 button is needed for admission.

Ham Lake Park is located just east of Highway 65 on 153rd Avenue NE. For further information, including specific event registration, times and details, go to www.hamlakecc.org/snowbowl.html.

The event will take place from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Four Seasons ballroom at Rush Creek, 7550 Ranier Lane N., in Maple Grove. Based on the popular TV series "Downton Abbey," guests will spend the afternoon like early 20th century British aristocrats, with a three-course tea and hors d'oeuvres, entertainment and free valet parking, all served by staff in period costumes. Guests are also encouraged to dress the part. Themed gift baskets will be available to buy.

Admission is $100, with all proceeds going directly to Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners programs; the Plymouth nonprofit provides emergency and long-term assistance to residents in eight communities in western Hennepin County. For more information, go to www.iocp.org/events/downton-abbey-tea.

Holy Nativity Lutheran Church is hosting a fundraiser on Saturday featuring professional wrestlers to support youth ministry summer programs.

The event will be held at 6 p.m. at the church, 3900 Winnetka Av. N., New Hope It includes stars of Midwest Wrestling Entertainment. It's the seventh year the church has hosted a pro wrestling event for the fundraiser, which will support youth trips this summer.

Tickets cost $12 ($2 off with a canned food donation); tickets for a family of four or more people cost $35, and children ages 7 and under are free.

The annual Mayors Trail Ride — a snowmobile trek with the mayors of Andover, Anoka, Nowthen, Oak Grove, Ramsey and St. Francis — has been scheduled for Feb. 21, weather and trail conditions permitting. The ride originally was set for Jan. 31 but was rescheduled because of the lack of snow.

The event is a fundraiser for the Andover Anoka Ramsey Youth First organization and other nonprofits decided by each mayor.

The day will begin at the Anoka County Fairgrounds Park in Anoka, with registration at 10 a.m. (You can also preregister.) Ramsey Police Chief Jim Way will serve as the trail boss.

At the end of the event, at 3 p.m., there will be a gathering at McDuff's Bar & Grill in Ramsey.

The cost is $10 per person if you preregister and $20 on the day of the event. For more information, including a registration form, go to www.anokaareachamber.com or call 763-421-7130.

The 10,000-square-foot building would also include a police substation, as well as parking space for an Allina ambulance.

Construction could start as early as this spring, if the council allows the city to advertise for bids by the end of February. The city would issue about $3.9 million in bonds to pay for the project.

Ramsey has installed its first Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station, on the first floor of the municipal parking ramp at 7650 Sunwood Dr.

Those interested in using it will need to set up an account with ChargePoint on the company's website. They'll then get a card that, when activated, will allow them to use the station.

The cost is $1 per hour. For further information, go to www.chargepoint.com.

It will take place at the police department, 4101 Hubbard Av. N., in the second-floor meeting room. The focus will be on confronting illegal drug activity in the community, with a presentation by the Northwest Metro Drug Task Force.