North metro briefs

A new parking ramp and skyway serving the Northstar commuter rail station in Anoka have opened.

The three-level, 344-space parking ramp is just south of the 4th Avenue station. The 58-foot-long pedestrian overpass, with elevator, spans the platforms at the station.

The 13-month project cost $10.4 million.

More than half of the work was funded by federal money. The city and the Counties Transit Improvement Board contributed about $2 million each. The other $575,000 came from the Anoka County Regional Railroad Authority.

The $1.65 million skyway is the third pedestrian bridge on the 40-mile Northstar line. The others are at the Ramsey and Coon Rapids stations.

The annual tour of historic homes and gardens in Anoka will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 13. This year's tour focuses on homes near the Mississippi River east of the Rum River. Tickets are $12 in advance or $15 on tour day. Advance and online sales will end Saturday, July 12, at 4 p.m. For information or to buy tickets, call 763-421-0600 or go to www.AnokaCountyHistory.org.

The Coon Rapids police and fire departments will hold a two-day safety camp this month for Coon Rapids students entering fourth and fifth grades this fall. The camp will take place July 22-23 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, at Sand Creek Park, 1008 Northdale Blvd. Topics will include water, fire and electrical safety; basic first aid, and how to use 911.

A registration form is available on the city website — www.coonrapidsmn.gov. Click on Community Events, then Safety Camp.

For further information, call the Coon Rapids Fire Department at 763-767-6429 or e-mail schapin@coonrapidsmn.gov.

The Golden Valley Golf Classic, a major fundraiser for the city fund that helps needy residents, needs volunteers who can greet and register players, monitor golf holes and register scores, help with refreshments, take photos and clean up. The classic is on July 11 at Brookview Golf Course, Golden Valley and helpers will be needed from about 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., depending on responsibilities. For more information, contact Sandy Werts at swerts@goldenvalleymn.gov or 763-512-2341.

The University of Minnesota prostate cancer support group will meet from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, July 10, at Hope Lodge, 2500 University Av. SE, Minneapolis. Dr. L.C. Cho, radiation oncologist from the university, will speak to the group, and a question-and-answer segment will follow. Wives, family members and friends are welcome. There is no charge, parking is free and light refreshments served. For more information, call 612-388-3588.

Representatives from Major League Baseball, the Minnesota Twins, Hennepin County and the city of Robbinsdale will celebrate the grand opening of the new artificial turf ball field at Lee Park at 5 p.m. July 10.

The Twins and MLB contributed $300,000 to the project, the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation donated $50,000, Robbinsdale gave $270,000, Hennepin County gave a $325,000 youth sports grant and a $10,000 Twins Fields for Kids grant.

Robbinsdale residents are invited to attend the event, which will include hot dogs and popcorn, photographs with a Minnesota Twins baseball legend and the baseball jamboree. The field, located at Lee and 37th Avenues N., will be renamed MLB Twins All-Star Field.

People interested in running for the Robbinsdale Area school board can attend a seminar on July 15 to get more information.

Current board members will share information about the district and the process to run for a seat. The seminar will begin at 6 p.m. at the Education Service Center, 4148 Winnetka Av. N., New Hope. Preregistration is preferred but not required. To register, call Mary Cebula at 763-504-8012.

The candidate filing period runs July 29 through Aug. 12.

Sherburne County law enforcement and community groups will discuss heroin addiction at two forums in July.

The Sheriff's Office and Know the Truth will host the events, which are free and open to the public. The first forum will run from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, July 9, at Elk River High School. The second is 7 to 9 p.m. July 30 at Becker High School.

Each forum will include a panel discussion and a question-and-answer session, Members of the Sherburne County Attorney's Office; Elk River, Becker and Big Lake police departments, and the Drug Enforcement Administration will be on the panel.