North news briefs: Anoka County holding public firewood sale

The Anoka County Parks and Recreation Department will hold public firewood sales on three Saturdays this month and next.

Firewood will be sold by the cord (4 feet by 8 feet by 16 feet) for $75 per cord. The county says about 95 percent of the wood is oak, with a small percentage of other mixed woods, split and seasoned two years.

Preregistration and prepayment are required, and buyers will need to pick up, load and transport the wood, from the county's Parks Maintenance Facility off Bunker Lake and Hanson boulevards in Andover.

Pickup will take place from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20; Saturday, Sept. 27, and Saturday, Oct. 18. You can call 763-757-3920 to register for a pickup time and to prepay (payment by phone is by credit card only). You can also register and pay in person at the Bunker Hills Activity Center, 550 Bunker Lake Blvd. NW., from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The deadline to register for this Saturday's sale is Thursday, Sept. 18. The deadlines for the Sept. 27 and Oct. 18 sales are Sept. 25 and Oct. 16, respectively. There are a limited number of spots. Call 763-527-3920 for further information.

The Anoka County Historical Society is offering a number of events in the days and weeks ahead, covering subjects ranging from Civil War medicine to WCCO Radio to the "Halloween Honey."

A partial rundown:

This month, there will be tours on Sept. 18-20 and Sept. 25-27, all beginning at 7:30 p.m. On Oct. 2-4, Oct. 9-11, Oct. 16-18 and Oct. 23-31, there will be two tours each night, starting at 7 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Tours begin at the Anoka County History Center and Library, 2135 Third Av. N., Anoka. They last about 1.5 hours.

The cost is $7 for adults and $5 for youth, and reservations are required. Call 763-421-0600 or go to anokacountyhistory.org

• Civil War Medicine. As part of the society's monthly Civil War Lecture Series, Michael Murray will speak on this subject at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2, at the History Center. Murray has worked at Historic Fort Snelling and The Landing in Shakopee for the past 20 years, specializing in medical history and historic trades. His presentation is free and open to the public.

• WCCO Radio 90th Anniversary Dinner. 5-9:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 1, at Courtyards of Andover, 13545 Martin St. NW., Andover. The cost is $40 per person ($35 for ACHS members) or $315 for reserved tables of eight. Reservations are required. Call 763-421-0600 or go to anokacountyhistory.org (online sales end at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20).

• Local author Roxy Orcutt, the "Halloween Honey." Orcutt will be at the History Center at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8. Her newest book is "History and Hauntings of the Halloween Capital," and takes a look at Anoka and why it is the "Halloween Capital of the World." The event is free and open to the public.

Skating lessons will be offered this fall at the Coon Rapids Ice Center for figure and hockey skaters ages 4 and up, of all abilities. Lessons follow the Basic Skills graded program and run for 12 weeks; classes last 30 minutes, with an additional 30 minutes of practice time.

Schedules are as follows:

• Mondays, Sept. 22- Dec. 8, from 6:10-6:40 p.m., for skaters at these levels — Basic 1/Hockey 1, Basic 2/Hockey 2, Basic 6-7. (This is also practice time for Basic 3-5 and Hockey 3)

• Mondays, Sept. 22-Dec. 8, from 6:40-7:10 p.m. for Basic 3-5 and Hockey 3. (This is also practice time for Basic 1/Hockey 1, Basic 2/Hockey 2 and Basic 6-7.)

• Saturdays, Sept. 20-Dec. 13, from 11:05-11:35 a.m. for Basic 1/Hockey 1, Basic 2/Hockey 2 and Basic 6-8. (Practice for adults, Hockey 3 and Basic 1-5.

For information, a fee schedule and registration materials, go to www.coonrapidsicecenter.com/skateschool.htm

A two-session course meant to guard against sexual abuse of children and vulnerable adults will be offered at Living Waters Lutheran Church, 865 Birch St., Lino Lakes. "Safeguarding God's Children" will be presented on Sunday Sept. 21, and Sunday Sept. 28, with sessions starting at 9:45 a.m. and running about an hour.

The course is offered at no cost and is intended for parents, grandparents, teachers and care providers who want to identify and prevent the problem. Facilitators trained by the St. Paul Area Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Churches in America will lead the sessions. The curriculum was developed by the Episcopal Church.

Living Waters says the sessions include a mix of video segments of sexual predators "who elaborate on strategies they used to lure victims and elude detection." Discussion will follow on what caregivers can do to create safer environments.

New Brighton Parks and Recreation will hold its third annual adult 55+ expo from 1-4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18, at the New Brighton Community Center. Among the features will be health assessments and fitness activities, breakout sessions, door prizes and refreshments.

There will also be a Lunch & Learn workshop from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on "Savvy Social Security," presented by First Investors Corp.

The expo is free, but there is a $10 fee for the Lunch & Learn workshop, which will include a pasta meal. Registration for the Lunch & Learn is required by Wednesday, Sept. 17.

For more, call 651-638-2130 or go to www.newbrightonmn.gov/community center. The community center is located at 400 10th St. NW., New Brighton.

A prostate cancer support group will meet at 5:30 p.m. next Wednesday, Sept. 24, at North Memorial Medical Center, Vance DeMong classroom, 3300 Oakdale Av,. N., Robbinsdale.