North metro town briefs

Lyric theater staging 'Little Shop of Horrors' The musical "Little Shop of Horrors" will open Friday at the Lyric Arts Main Street Stage in Anoka. Shows will be at 7:30 on Friday and Saturday nights and 2 p.m. Sunday. The production will run through Nov. 1, with shows Wednesday-Sunday Oct. 21-25 and Oct. 29-Nov. 1. Show times will be 7 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays; 7:30 p.m. on Fridays; 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24, and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31; and 2 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are $16-$20. Phone: 763-422-1838; Web: www.lyricarts.org.

Wurzer, Behr to discuss new book Broadcast journalist Cathy Wurzer and Denny Behr, an Anoka native and photographer, will discuss their new book, "Tales from the Road: Highway 61," on Saturday at the Rum River Library in Anoka. The event begins at 10:30 a.m.; the library is at 4201 6th Av., Anoka.

Wurzer is senior anchor and host of "Morning Edition" at Minnesota Public Radio and cohosts "Almanac" on Twin City Public Television. Admission is free but seating is limited at the event, sponsored by Friends of the Anoka County Library. For further information, go to www.anoka.lib.mn.us

County libraries mark Teen Read Week Teen Read Week, a nationwide initiative of the Young Adult Library Services Association, will be celebrated the week of Oct. 18-24. This year's theme is Read Beyond Reality @ your library. Teens are invited to stop by their local Anoka County library during the week and participate in a library scavenger hunt. Those completing the hunt will be eligible to enter a drawing for prizes. For more information, go to www.anoka.lib.mn.us

Two libraries now open more hours County libraries in Blaine and St. Francis are open additional hours starting this month. St. Francis will be open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Northtown Library in Blaine will be the only Anoka County library open on Sundays, from 1 to 5 p.m.

County gets energy conservation grant Anoka County has been awarded nearly $2 million in federal grant money to support the county's energy efficiency and conservation activities.

"This moves us forward in implementing projects" and "means putting local people back to work," said Dennis Berg, county board chairman.

Pumpkin Night in the Park is set Springbrook Nature Center in Fridley is hosting Pumpkin Night in the Park Saturday (10-17). Cost is $6 per person and includes hiking the Enchanted Outdoor Trail with hundreds of carved pumpkins; treats; a pumpkin patch dance; an indoor trail of spooky delights; bonfires, and the Roadkill Cafe. For further information call 763-572-3588 or go to ci.fridley.mn.us/webmaster-contact/springbrook-nature-center

Business Expo coming Oct. 27 North metro businesses looking for a place to showcase their companies are invited to participate in the Twin Cities North Business Expo.

Sponsored by the Twin Cities North Chamber of Commerce, the expo is scheduled for 5 to 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 27 at the Mounds View Community Center.

Cost to register a booth at the event is $200, and the registration deadline is Oct. 16.

For more information, go to www.twincitiesnorth.org or call 763-571-9781.

Forum will feature school board hopefuls The League of Women Voters of Crystal-New Hope-East Plymouth will hold a public forum on Thursday, Oct. 22, at which candidates for the Robbinsdale school board will introduce themselves and respond to questions from the audience. The event will take place at 7 p.m. at the Robbinsdale Area Schools Education Service Center, 4148 Winnetka Av. N. in New Hope.

Eleven candidates have filed to run in the Nov. 3 election for four seats: Darlene Baker (Plymouth), Richard J. Brynteson (Crystal), Mark Bomchill (Plymouth), Patsy Green (New Hope), Linda Johnson (Golden Valley), Jim Oathout (Crystal), Andrew Richter (Crystal), Beth Sharpe (Brooklyn Center), Sue Stavenau (Plymouth), Tom Walsh (Plymouth) and Brian Zirbes (Crystal).

The district operates 14 schools in the northwest suburbs of Minneapolis, including all or parts of Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, Golden Valley, New Hope, Plymouth and Robbinsdale.

Prayer breakfast is set for this morning The New Hope mayor's annual prayer breakfast will be held this morning at Cooper High School.

The event, from 7 to 8:30 a.m., will feature inspirational words by local clergy from a variety of faiths, as well as performances by area musicians. A continental breakfast will be provided. Tickets are $10 and can be obtained by calling Pam Sylvester at 763-531-5110.

Share thoughts on maintenance center Shoreview residents are invited to an open house to discuss the city's plans to expand and remodel its maintenance center. Cost of the building and site improvements is estimated at $5.5 million.

City officials say the center, built in 1975 and located in the Shoreview Commons Area at 4615 Victoria St. N., hasn't been updated since 1985. Since then, Shoreview has grown significantly and no longer supports the city's current and future needs, they say.

The open house will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Oct. 24, at the Maintenance Facility.

JIM ADAMS, PAUL LEVY, ALLIE SHAH

View fall colors from a kayak You can enjoy the fall colors along the Mississippi River from a kayak on Saturday.

The trip begins at 11 a.m. and is expected to finish at 3 p.m.