North metro town briefs

Dylan-themed photo exhibit at NHCC North Hennepin Community College will host a Bob Dylanesque photo exhibition from Monday through April 24 as part of activities marking the 40th anniversary of Earth Day.

"The Hard Rain Exhibition: Our Headlong Collision with Nature"-- a photographic illustration of Dylan's song "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" -- will be on display in the courtyard. The college is at 7411 85th Av. N., Brooklyn Park.

Exhibit creator Mark Edwards, from London, collaborated with Dylan on the project. The exhibition has been seen by more than 15 million people around the world. Edwards will discuss issues raised in the exhibit -- hunger, poverty, the impact of war and environmental degradation -- on April 23 from 1-2 p.m. in the Fine Arts Theater.

For more information, call 763-424-0961, or visit www. nhcc.edu or www.hardrainpro ject.com.

Smelt fry The Brooklyn Park Lions will hold their 48th Annual "World's Largest Smelt Fry" April 21 to 23.

The all-you-can-eat event will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. each day at the Brooklyn Park National Guard Armory, 5600 85th Av. N. Breaded, deep- fried smelt will be served, along with coleslaw, chips, dinner roll, coffee, milk or pop. Beer costs extra.

Tickets are $9.50 for adults and $5 for kids 12 and under. Advance tickets for $9 can be bought from Lions members. All proceeds go for eyeglasses for Brooklyn Park children or for other area charitable efforts. Call Andrew Reinhardt at 763-607-6770 for more information.

These teas will feature Julie, the American Girl doll who represents the early years of the 1970s. Tea and pastries will be served in an old-fashioned setting. The cost is $10 for adults and $7 for girls. Pre-registration is required. Call (763) 421-0600 or go to www.ac-hs.org

Fundraiser will help sister city's hospital The Columbia Heights Sister City fundraiser is scheduled for Sunday, with proceeds to benefit a children's hospital in Lomianki, Poland. The event will run from 4 to 7 p.m. at Murzyn Hall, 530 Mill St., Columbia Heights, and will include dinner, entertainment, a bazaar and silent auction.

The cost is $9 for adults, $5 for students, and free for kids 5 and under. For information, call 763-571-1709 or 763-574-1489.

Family Center holding garage sale fundraiser The Forest Lake ECFE Children's Garage Sale is coming up. The Family Center Parent Advisory Council will hold the sale and fundraiser from 9 a.m. to noon April 17 at Forest Lake High School, 6101 Scandia Trail N., Forest Lake.

The sale will include children's and infant clothing, toys, books, baby equipment and maternity clothes. Call 651-982-8300 for information.

Admission is free for the two events, which will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Ramsey Business Expo will feature exhibits that spotlight retail, service and restaurant businesses in the city. The theme is "Think Global, Act and Shop Local." It will be held at Pact Charter School, 7250 E. Ramsey Pkwy.

The Environmental Expo and Tree Sale will be held at the Ramsey Municipal Center, 7550 Sunwood Dr. NW. There will be a number of exhibitors, educational presentations and art displays by Ramsey Elementary students. The event will also feature local nurseries with an array of trees, shrubs, and perennials.

Free shuttle service will be available between the two events.

For more information about the two expos, go to the city of Ramsey website at www.ci.ramsey.mn.us and click on the "Community Events" tab.

A variety of trees can be ordered until April 17, with pickup on May 1. Trees also may be bought and donated for planting in public parks in a number of cities, including Arden Hills, Blaine, Brooklyn Park and Shoreview.

For further information, go to www.co.ramsey.mn.us/parks or call 651-698-4543.