News briefs: Northern Stars event is set for Saturday

The Northern Stars Celebration — an evening of entertainment that raises funds for the Anoka-Hennepin Educational Foundation — will be held Saturday, Oct. 5, at the Minneapolis Marriot Northwest in Brooklyn Park.

The event celebrates the education that students receive in Anoka-Hennepin schools. It will feature live entertainment by high school bands and students as well as silent and live auctions.

The Anoka-Hennepin Educational Foundation supports students and schools across the district, backing such things as enhanced opportunities in early childhood education, talent development and career and college readiness.

Saturday's event begins at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $75, of which $40 is tax deductible. For more information or to order tickets, call 763-506-1107 or go to www.anoka.k12.mn.us/ahef.

Spring Lake Park Schools will launch the third North Metro Performing Arts Series season on Oct. 26 with a performance by the Allan Harris Band. The series is intended to bring world-class entertainment to the area. Performances are at the high school Fine Arts Center.

Allan Harris is a singer, guitarist and songwriter whose music runs from jazz to rock to blues. The other performances during the 2013-14 season will be by the California Guitar Trio and the Montreal Guitar Trio on March 17, and the Abrams Brothers on April 13.

A package for all three performances is $60; $30 for students.

The Anoka County Historical Society will conduct its Monuments to Life cemetery tours again this month — evenings that are filled with stories, traditions, art, characters, history and symbolism. The schedule:

• Saturday, Oct. 5, at Oak Park Cemetery, County Road 18 (or West Broadway), Columbus;

• Thursday, Oct. 10, at Rice Lake Methodist Cemetery, on the south side of Birch Street, ⅜ of a mile east of Hwy. 49, Lino Lakes, and

• Saturday, Oct. 12, at Forest Hill Cemetery, West Main Street, Anoka.

The tours begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are limited and must be bought in advance. They're available at the Anoka County History Center, 2135 3rd Av. N., Anoka., as well as online at www.anoka countyhistory.org or by calling 763-421-0600.

Unity Day will be marked from 7 to 9 p.m. next Wednesday, Oct. 9, at the Hennepin Technical College Auditorium, 9000 Brooklyn Blvd., Brooklyn Park. The event will feature a showing of the locally produced film "Boys Cry," which addresses bullying and other issues facing young African immigrants in schools. After the screening, there will be a panel discussion including Reggie Anderson, maker of the film, and others working against bullying in schools.

The event is free and open to the public. It is presented by the Brooklyn Park Human Rights Commission in partnership with the college and the organization STOPP.

Fall term has begun at the Camden Music School, but it's not too late to enroll. Students are welcome to register at any time, and tuition will be prorated. Classes run through Jan. 18.

Camden offers classes for people of all ages, at two locations in Minneapolis — CMS/Camden, 3751 Sheridan Av. N., and CMS/Northeast, 1500 6th St. NE. For further information, call 612-618-0219 or go to www.camdenmusicschool.com

Rum River Central Regional Park in Ramsey will be the starting point for a kayaking excursion on Saturday, Oct. 5.

For more information, call 651-429-8007 or go to www.anokacountyparks.com.

A crafts fair will be held from 3:30-5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6, at St. James Lutheran Church, 6700 46th Pl. N., Crystal.

It will feature a wide variety of wares, including coasters, krumkake, embroidery, rosettes, knitting, soap-making, rosemaling, and more. There will be demonstrations and hands-on opportunities, and some of the results will be offered for sale.