Briefs: Fall recycling dropoff day set this weekend in Anoka

Fall recycling dropoff day set this weekendThe city's fall recycling dropoff day will be held from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Anoka Public Works Building, 501 Pierce St.

A number of materials and items will be accepted free of charge; fees will be charged for others.

Some of the items that will be accepted with no fee are: refrigerators and freezers (no gas units); bicycles (accepted in all conditions); rolled residential carpeting (must be dry, maximum 6-foot-wide rolls, bound with duct tape, string or twine); computer speakers, keyboards and home phones; notebook computers; up to 30 fluorescent lamps and ballasts per vehicle; cell phones; eyeglasses; lead-acid auto, boat and motorcycle batteries; and other items.

Some of the items for which fees will be charged: TVs, mattresses, box springs, computer monitors and tires.

Items that will not be accepted: furniture, garbage of any kind, composting materials, household hazardous products, building materials or construction debris.

For further information, including the fee schedule, go to www.ci.anoka.mn.us or www.startribune.com/a1731 or call 763-576-2725 before noon on Friday.

Fire station will have open house SaturdayThe Brooklyn Center Fire Department will open the West Fire Station to the public from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. The station is located at 6250 Brooklyn Blvd.

Business forum sets date for 1st gatheringThe inaugural Business Forward Forum will be held 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11, at Edinburgh USA, 8700 Edinburgh Crossing.

The event, aimed at Brooklyn Park business owners and representatives, will feature Chris Lower of Sterling Cross Communications as its keynote speaker. He specializes in traditional storytelling using today's communication.

In addition, there will be city updates from Mayor Jeff Lunde and Brooklyn Park staff, and a chance to network with other business people.

Business Forward is a city initiative that is part of Brooklyn Park's efforts to be a thriving city. It is also part of the city's civic engagement project.

Further information is available at www.brooklynpark.org/businessforward. If you'd like to participate, call 763-493-8056 or e-mail RSVP@brooklynpark.org.

They are scheduled from 10 a.m. to noon at Station One, 1460 Egret Blvd.; Station Two, 1199 121st Av.; and Station Three, 2831 113th Av.

Fire department staff members also will visit Coon Rapids elementary schools during the week, and Domino's Pizza will partner with the department to promote fire safety. Anyone who orders a pizza on Oct. 7 or Oct. 11 from 5 to 8 p.m., may be randomly selected and met at the door by a crew of Coon Rapids firefighters.

Firefighters will check to see whether the homeowner's fire alarms are working. If they are, the pizza will be free. If the alarms are not working, firefighters will replace the batteries or install a fully functioning alarm.

For further information, call the fire department at 763-767-6429.

More than 80 units expected for paradeThe 15th annual Plymouth on Parade Celebration will take place this weekend.

Free family activities will follow from 12:30 to 3 p.m. at the Plymouth Ice Center/Life Time Fitness facility and Hilde Performance Center. They will include open ice skating, open gym and swimming, a mini farmers market, face-painting, pony rides, a Ducky Derby and food.

A children's musical group, "Sticks and Tones," will perform from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. About 5,000 rubber ducks will race against each other after the parade for the Minnetonka/Plymouth Rotary fundraiser. For more information, go to www.ducksonparade.com.

Interfaith Outreach hosts free jobs sessionInterfaith Outreach & Community Partners in Plymouth is hosting a free jobs session in October focused on helping people who are unemployed, underemployed or in a job they aren't enjoying.

The session, "Change your stripes, do what you love for a living," will feature speaker Catherine Byers Breet from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at 1605 County Road 101 N., Plymouth. It's free and open to the public.

To reserve a spot, call 763-745-5264 and select option 2, or go to www.arbez.com/event-10-02-2012-01.

Dr. Marvin Brooks of North Memorial Clinics will discuss treatment of prostate cancer from a complementary and cross-cultural viewpoint, as they relate to surgery and/or radiation.

The gathering is free, and wives and friends are welcome.

For further information, call 612-388-3588.