North metro town briefs

Volunteers needed to remove buckthorn The city is looking for volunteers to help remove buckthorn at Hazelnut Park on Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The city will provide some tools such as saws and chainsaws, but volunteers are welcome to bring their own tools. They should wear jeans and heavy long-sleeved shirts, gloves and safety glasses -- old clothing that you don't mind being torn. The Parks, Trails and Recreation Committee is sponsoring the effort at the park, at 3301 New Brighton Road, between Stowe and Beckman Avenues.

Counselors offer advice on foreclosures Worried about making your mortgage payments or already behind? Local nonprofit foreclosure counselors will answer questions about what happens during foreclosure and offer confidential advice at free workshops scheduled at Hennepin County libraries.

The Foreclosure Information Workshops will be held:

• Saturday, Nov. 1, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at Pierre Bottineau Library, 55 Broadway St. NE., Minneapolis, 612-630-6890.

• Tuesday, Dec. 2, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Brooklyn Park Library, 8600 Zane Av. N., Brooklyn Park, 952-847-5325.

The workshops are presented by Hennepin County Taxpayer Services in partnership with Hennepin County Library and the Home Ownership Center, an agency that provides counseling to homeowners on foreclosure prevention. For more information, call your local library or go online to www.hclib.org.

The same candidates will appear at a League of Women Voters forum at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at the New Hope City Hall, 4401 Xylon Av. N.

The League of Women Voters also will host a forum for Crystal City Council candidates, including the mayor's race, on Monday at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 4141 Douglas Drive. Mayor ReNae Bowman is opposed by Council Member Laurie Ann Moore.

Officials will discuss sewer repairs A public information meeting to discuss repairing a regional sanitary sewer will be held at the Brooklyn Park City Hall on Thursday. City and Metropolitan Council officials will explain how the work may affect property owners. The meeting, at 5200 85th Av. N., runs from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Firefighters will serve fundraising breakfast Brooklyn Park firefighters will serve pancakes and sausage at a fundraising breakfast Saturday at Applebee's restaurant, 7901 Brooklyn Blvd. Profits will go to the fire department, which will offer fire truck tours during the breakfast, held from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.

Firewood for sale Get a jump on that winter urge to build a cozy fire with the Fall Public Firewood Sale on Saturday, Nov. 1, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Pickup will be at the Anoka County Parks Maintenance Facility located off of Bunker Lake and Hanson Boulevards in Andover (the check-in station is at the fence gate between the Anoka County Highway Department and Parks Maintenance Facilities). For more details on the sale, go to www.anokacountyparks.com/park_info/firewoodsale.htm.

Halloween celebration for children of all ages The Halloween fun gets started a little early with a special event Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at the Rum River Library. Kids of all ages are invited to come in their costumes to enjoy an hour of Halloween stories, songs and crafts. The event also will include an indoor parade at the library, at 201 6th Av. in Anoka. For more information, call 763-576-4695.

Mayoral, City Council candidate forum The public is invited to a forum featuring the candidates for the St. Francis mayoral and City Council races at 7 p.m. Thursday at the ISD 15 Central Services Center, 4115 Ambassador Blvd., St. Francis. A moderator will ask written questions from the audience.

The candidates for mayor are incumbent Randy Dressen and challenger Jerry Tveit. In the running for two council seats are incumbents Ray Jones and Steve Kane and challengers Ron Benkler, Jeffrey Sandoval and Vince Spensley.

The event is sponsored by the St. Francis Area Chamber of Commerce and St. Francis Area Women of Today.