North/east metro briefs: Washington County to report on affordable housing status

Accomplishments in 2015 included renovation of 42 rental units in St. Paul Park, rehabilitation of nine owner-occupied units, and construction of eight owner-occupied townhouses. Funds were also used for land acquisition for construction of a food shelf in Hugo and to prevent homelessness by providing public services for households with housing emergencies.

Washington County, as a member of the Fair Housing Implementation Council, provided funding for tenant rights and responsibility videos.

The full report can be viewed on the Washington County Community Development Agency's website at www.wchra.com.

Kevin Giles

Several upcoming candidate forums for contested races will be held in Stillwater, Lake Elmo and Bayport. The lineup includes the contentious School District 834 board race. Longtime candidate forum moderator Marguerite "Margot" Rheinberger of Stillwater will ask questions supplied by the sponsor, the Stillwater Gazette. All forums are open to the public:

• Monday, Fourth Congressional District from 7-8 p.m.; Senate District 39 from 8:30-9:15 p.m. Both held at Stillwater Junior High School, 523 Marsh St. W.

• Wednesday, House District 39A from 7-7:45 p.m.; House District 39B from 8-8:45 p.m. at Stillwater City Hall, 216 Fourth St. N.

• Monday, Oct. 10, School District 834 (Stillwater Area Public Schools) from 7-8:30 p.m. at Stillwater Junior High.

• Monday, Oct. 17, Lake Elmo City Council from 7-8 p.m.; Lake Elmo mayor from 8:20-9:20 p.m. at Oak-Land Junior High, 820 Manning Av. N., Lake Elmo.

• Tuesday, Oct. 18, Bayport City Council from 7-8:15 p.m., Bayport City Hall, 294 3rd St. N.

Kevin Giles

Ramsey County is cautioning parks users that all or parts of a bunch of county parks could close temporarily this fall as bowhunters pursue deer.

• Poplar Lake Open Space (Shoreview/White Bear Township) Oct. 7-9, Oct. 28-30;

• Turtle Creek Open Space (Shoreview) Oct. 7-9, Oct. 28-30;

• Battle Creek Regional Park (St. Paul/Maplewood) Oct. 10-12, Nov. 7-9;

• Fish Creek Open Space (Maplewood/St. Paul) Oct. 21-23, Nov. 11-13;

• Snail Lake Marsh (Vadnais-Snail Lakes Regional Park, Shoreview) Oct. 21-23, Nov. 11-13;

• Vadnais Lake (Vadnais-Snail Lakes Regional Park, Vadnais Heights) Oct. 24-26, Nov. 14-16;

• Rice Creek North Regional Trail (Shoreview) Oct. 24-26, Nov. 14-16.

"Efforts will be made to keep most major paved hiking and biking trails open," the county says. Archers for the 2016 hunts have already been selected. Archers interested in future hunts should visit www.mbrb.org.

David Peterson

New rules limit when spectators can set up chairs and blankets along Anoka Halloween parade routes.

The Anoka City Council passed the new rules after people started setting up chairs and blankets several days in advance of the Halloween festivities, cluttering sidewalks and other public spaces. The rules also require people to remove all items from public property within three hours of an event's conclusion.

Spectators may start setting up chairs, blankets and tarps at 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, for the Light up the Night Parade, which begins at 7 p.m.

Spectators can reserve spots for the Big Parade of Little People starting at 4 a.m. on Oct. 28. The parade starts at 1:15 p.m. that day. People can snag spots for the Grand Day Parade starting at 4 a.m. on Oct. 29. The parade begins at 1 p.m. that day.

Tickets for bleacher seats go on sale Monday. Tickets may be purchased in person at Anoka City Hall, 2015 First Av. N., by telephone at 763-576-2980 or online at www.ci.anoka.mn.us. Extra fees apply to telephone and online purchases. For more information about Anoka Halloween go to www.anokahalloween.com.