North metro town briefs: Halloween events are coming

President Abraham Lincolon's Gettysburg Address and the lasting impacts of the 1863 battle will be the subject of a Nov. 7 program presented by the Anoka County Historical Society.

The event, the third in the society's Civil War Lecture Series, will begin at 7 p.m. at the Anoka County History Center, 2135 3rd Av. N., Anoka. It is free and open to the public.

John Cox, a former certified Gettysburg Battlefield Guide, will discuss Lincoln's speech, as well as the battle, in which the First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment helped turn the tide at great sacrifice.

African Immigrant Services is hosting an African Community Appreciation & Awards Dinner on Friday, Nov. 15, at the Minneapolis Boulevard Hotel, 2200 Freeway Blvd., Brooklyn Center.

The evening will have a theme of "Investing in Civic Engagement & Equity," with the keynote address given by Lawrencina Mason Oramalu, director of equity and diversity for Minneapolis Public Schools.

In addition to cuisine, music and a chance to network, the event will include a fashion show and spoken words; cultural performances; project updates; and entertainment, as well as the appreciation and awards portion.

Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. The official program will run from 7-10:30 p.m., followed by extra social hours from 10:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m.

Brooklyn Park will hold a Safe Trick or Treating event from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday (Halloween night) at the Zanewood Gym, 7100 Zane Av. N. It's for kids up to age 14, and they must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. The event, free and open to the public, will include treats, games, music, crafts, inflatables, and more.

Children and adults with autism, along with caregivers and family members, are invited to an open house from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, at the Brooklyn Park Community Center. The event is hosted by the city's Police Department and will give attendees a chance to gain a perspective on how the department is learning to interact with people who have autism. Educational resources will be provided, and there will be a meet and greet with police officers.

The community center is located at 5600 85th Av. N, Brooklyn Park.

Residents of Brooklyn Park, Brooklyn Center, Crystal and New Hope can drop off pumpkins for recycling from this Friday, Nov. 1, through Thursday, Nov. 7, at a container in Central Park, across the street from Brooklyn Park's Operations and Maintenance Building, 8300 Noble Av. N. Pumpkins will be made into compost. They can be dropped off at the location any time of day. All candles, candle wax and decorations must be removed first.

A Veterans' Day Concert will be held at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 10, at St. James Lutheran Church, 6700 46th Pl. N., Crystal. Gary Heil, a Vietnam veteran and musician, will present sacred and secular tunes with singing, sing-alongs and instrumentals. Heil has worked as a volunteer in music therapy at the Veterans Administration and currently teaches at Mount Calvary Music Academy in Excelsior. A free-will offering will be taken. For further information, call 763-537-3653.

Anoka-Ramsey, with campuses in Coon Rapids and Cambridge, and Anoka Tech, located in Anoka, are part of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, which is waiving application fees systemwide through Oct. 31. The waiver by Anoka-Ramsey and Anoka Tech is not temporary; it will continue indefinitely.

The Plymouth Fire Department is collecting Halloween candy until Friday, Nov. 1, to send to deployed military personnel, children, veterans, first responders and wounded soldiers.

Residents can drop off candy at Plymouth City Hall, 3400 Plymouth Blvd., until 4:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1. Whole bags of candy can be donated; no Pixie Stix will be accepted. The candy will be given to Hopkins-based Shamblott Family Dentistry, which ships it overseas through the organization Operation Gratitude.

For more information, call Plymouth City Hall at 763-509-5000.

The Robbinsdale Cooper High School Marching Band will present "KA-BOOM!" on Friday, Nov. 1, at the high school in New Hope. The performance will run from 7 to 9 p.m. and will feature music from Cirque du Soleil's adventure show, "KA." The Shady Oak Groove Society also will perform, the new Cooper High School Color Guard will appear, and WCCO-TV personality Jason DeRusha will be master of ceremonies.