North metro town briefs

Parks will waive fees and offer discounts A lot of the fun will be free this Sunday at Anoka County's regional parks. Vehicle fees are being waived for the day. An extra bonus for the summer: Entry fees to county parks will also be waived the first Tuesday of each month.

"This is a chance to showcase Anoka County's Parks and Recreation system to individuals and families who might otherwise not visit the parks," County Commissioner Dick Lang, who chairs the county's Parks and Recreation Committee, said in a news release.

Other freebies or discounts for this Sunday include:

• 50 percent off admission after 4 p.m. at Bunker Beach at Bunker Hills Regional park in Coon Rapids

• Free one-hour bike rental at Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park

• Free bucket of balls at Chomonix Golf Course driving range in Lino Lakes

• Free one-hour canoe or kayak rental at Wargo Nature Center in Lino Lakes

For more information, go to www.anokacountyparks.com or call the information line at 763-767-2820.

Student wins national art competition A junior at Columbia Heights High School has won first prize in this year's Sister Cities International Young Artists Showcase competition in Washington, D.C.

Ashley Genadek, 17, will receive a $1,200 cash award plus a travel stipend of up to $2,000 to the Sister Cities International Conference in Belfast, Ireland, thus summer. She qualified by winning first place among 16 entrants at a Columbia Heights exhibition at Murzyn Hall in April.

Genadek was among 70 artists in the national contest. Her photomontage was the first such work to win since the "Showcase" began in 1988. The purpose of the event is to encourage young people to participate in the Sister Cities mission of promoting peace through mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation through one individual, one community at a time. This year's theme was "Your Path To Peace."

The contest is sponsored locally by the Columbia Heights Sister Cities Committee and the city Recreation Department. The suburb's sister city is Lomianki, Poland. Committee co-chairman Gilbert Mros said it was special that Genadek won because of her Polish heritage.

Proceeds from the sale of anniversary merchandise will go to fund community activities connected to the anniversary, starting Friday and running through July 3, 2010.

Garage sale for a good cause Garage salers can have a good feeling after they hit the third annual Community Garage Sale to be held 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday, June 27, and 1-4 p.m. on Sunday, June 28, at Elk River Ford Dodge Jeep.

All proceeds from the sale will be donated to community groups including the CAER Food Shelf, Second Harvest and Faith in Action. Non-perishable food items will also be collected to be donated to the food shelf. People who bring a bag of food will receive a free car wash.

Last year's sale brought in $20,000 for community groups, and organizers are hoping to top that amount in donations and food collected. The dealership is at 17219 Hwy. 10 NW. in Elk River. For more information, call Jaime Drabczak at 763-274-3356.

Get information on veterans' benefits Veterans' questions about federal benefits will be answered during a session at the Central Library, at 300 Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 20.

Farmers Market will open Saturday New Hope's Community Farmers Market opens for the season this Saturday.

The open-air market will be open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Kmart parking lot at 4300 Xylon Av. N., across the street from New Hope City Hall. More than 30 vendors have signed up to participate in the farmers market.

About two-thirds of the vendors are local fruit, vegetable and flower growers. Others include prepared food vendors, local artists, craft booths and several community organizations and churches. The market will run every Saturday, except July 4 and Sept. 5, through Oct. 17. For more information about the market, call 763-531-5196 or visit its website at www.newhopemarket.org.

Alpine Park opens off-leash area Dogs have a new spot to take their owners for a walk in the off-leash area at Alpine Park, 6600 Alpine Drive (between Ramsey Boulevard and Sunfish Lake Boulevard). The designated off-leash area is free and located in the center of Alpine Park beyond ballfields #2 and #3. About half of the several acre area is irrigated, and the rest has tall grass and a wooded corner.

A pet water fountain was installed last week in the bark park, which opened last month. It also has seating for worn-out walkers who are reminded to clean up after pets. Anyone with questions or comments can contact Parks Supervisor Mark Riverblood at 763-433-9853 or e-mail him at mriverblood @ci.ramsey.mn.us.

Concerts start at 7 p.m. Wednesdays at the pavilion at the Shoreview Community Center, 4580 Victoria St. N. Bring a blanket and a picnic dinner if you'd like. A snack bar is available.

The rest of the summer schedule is: Big Walter Smith (June 17); Marcoux Corner (June 24); Coda (July 1); Dan Perry & the Ice Cream Band (July 8); Michael Monroe (July 15); Northern Lights Variety Band (July 22); Tangled Roots (July 29); AM Transistor (Aug. 5) and Bend in the River Band (Aug. 12).

Call 651-490-4750 for more information.

Lions Club hosts Run/Walk the Rum As part of the Pioneer Days celebration, the Lions Club is hosting its second annual 5K Run/Walk the Rum, starting at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, on the running track at St. Francis High School, 3325 Bridge St. NW.

Participants will receive a T-shirt and refreshments, and are eligible to win door prizes at the race's end. Leashed pets are welcome. The fee is $20 in advance, or $30 the day of the event. For an entry form, go to the events tab on the city website, www.stfrancis.gov office.com, or call Mike Starr at 763-753-7496.