North news briefs: Annual Brooklyn Park tree sale features 7 species

Annual tree sale features seven speciesArbor Day may be a couple of months off, but Brooklyn Park is launching its annual tree sale connected to the occasion.

Seven species of bare-root trees are available, and information and online order forms can be found at www.brooklynpark.org/arborday or by calling 763-493-8333.

Arbor Day is April 26. Trees bought through the city's sale will be available for pickup on May 4.

Fish fry will aid planned towerA fish fry is scheduled for Feb. 22 at Murzyn Hall to help raise funds for the planned Columbia Heights Community Heritage Tower.

The event will run from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and for children 12 and older; they're $6 for kids under 12. In addition to food, the evening will include live entertainment, a silent auction and a "mystery celebrity."

Tickets are available at City Hall and from Columbia Heights Recreation. For further information, call 763-706-3607. Murzyn Hall is located at 530 Mill St.

The Columbia Heights Community Heritage Tower is the third and final piece of a decade-long effort to promote peace and opportunity in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks that shook the nation.

Two students named National Merit finalistsTwo seniors in the Elk River School District have advanced to the final round of the National Merit Scholarship program. They are Mathea Krogstad of Elk River High School and Erik Bremer of Rogers High School. The national winners will be announced in March.

Krogstad 17, has a 3.883 GPA and is currently a full-time Post-Secondary Enrollment Options student at Bethel University. Through her church she has established a relationship with Manuelito Project in Honduras, a school for former street children.

Bremer, 17, has a 4.038 GPA and is involved in baseball, Student Council, Knowledge Bowl and National Honor Society.

Second-graders adopt a distinctive 'pet'A second-grade class at Otsego Elementary School has adopted a baby elephant in Kenya.

The students are in Erin Rehnblom's class. Rehnblom's uncle, Pat Sergott, who is working in the African country, came upon the animal at an elephant orphanage late last month.

Rehnblom said the effort helps the elephant and also is teaching the students the importance of helping others. She said the class is able to track the elephant's progress.

"We will get monthly diary entries from his handler, we will know what he is doing and how he is doing, and we are also brainstorming other ways that we can help Lamoyian," she said.

Mayors Trail Ride is coming Feb. 23The annual Mayors Trail Ride, a snowmobile outing hosted by the mayors of Andover, Anoka, Nowthen, Oak Grove, Ramsey and St. Francis, will be held on Feb. 23, dependent on weather.

The ride will start at the Anoka County Fairgrounds in Anoka, with registration at 10 a.m. Ramsey Police Chief Jim Way will be the trail boss and will direct the group.

The cost is $10 per person if you preregister or $20 on the day of the event. All proceeds will go to the Andover Anoka Ramsey Youth First organization and other non-profits decided by each mayor.

Also Feb. 23: Home and Garden ShowThe 15th North Metro Community Home and Garden Show is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 23, at the National Sports Center in Blaine. The event is sponsored by the cities of Blaine, Fridley and Mounds View and will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Sport Expo Center. Admission is free. The Sports Center is located at 1740 105th Av. NE, Blaine.

The show will feature exhibits and seminars, as well as a Kids Activity Center. In addition, door prizes will be presented periodically.

For further information, go to www.startribune.com/a2065 or www.northmetrohomeandgarden.com

Senior program offers classesThe St. Louis Park Senior Program is offering a six-week beginning woodworking class beginning next Tuesday. The class runs from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays. No experience is necessary.

The Men's Group is sponsoring "Secrets to a Long, Healthy and Happy Life" from 9-10 a.m. Tuesday.

City engineer elected to head associationCoon Rapids City Engineer Bob Moberg was elected president of the state City Engineers Association at the group's recent conference in Brooklyn Center.

Moberg has served in various roles with the association, including vice president and chairing the water resources committee for several years.