North news briefs: Anoka County license centers to close early Dec. 24

All Anoka County license centers will close early, at noon, on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, and be closed on Christmas Day, Dec. 25.

In addition, the Anoka County Household Hazardous Waste Facility will be closed on Christmas Eve. The facility is at 3230 101st Av. NE in Blaine, off Radisson Road.

Normal hours from November through March are Wednesday from 2-8 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m.-3 p.m. The facility will be open during its regular hours on Saturday, Dec. 27, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. and on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2-8 p.m. For more information, call Anoka County Integrated Waste Management at 763-323-5730 or visit AnokaCounty.us/recycle.

Brooklyn Park is seeking community volunteers to help plan the city's 2015 Tater Daze celebration. The annual festival will take place June 18-21, and volunteers are needed for such committees as programs and entertainment, parade, sports areas and site operations, among others.

General committee meetings will be held the first Tuesday of the month from 7:30-8:30 p.m. at City Hall. Volunteers must be able to work the weekend of the festival.

A volunteer open house is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Jan. 6 in the Brooklyn Township Room at City Hall, 5200 85th Av. No. For further information, call 763-493-8013 or e-mail taterdaze@gmail.com.

The Maple Grove Indoor Farmers Market is extending into the new year because of customers' interest and more vendors being able to extend the produce season. Sessions will take place Jan. 15, Feb. 19 and March 19 at the Maple Grove Community Center. All markets are held from 3-6 p.m. on Thursdays. For more information, go to www.maplegrovefarmersmarket.com or www.facebook.com/maplegrovefarmersmarket

Coon Rapids is seeking volunteers for its first fix-it clinic to be held in January.

Residents will bring in broken lamps, toasters and other household items for repair by a team of skilled volunteers. The clinic will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Jan. 31 at City Hall, 11155 Robinson Dr. in Coon Rapids.

The city is seeking volunteers with skills in soldering, electronics and electrical repair, small appliances, motors and circuitry, lamp rewiring, mechanical and gluing, sewing and general tinkering.

Contact Colleen Sinclair at csinslair@coonrapidsmn.gov or 763-767-6485 with questions or to volunteer.

Coon Rapids will launch its annual winter concert series with the country band Gravel Roads on Jan. 8. After that, the schedule will include Straighten Up and Fly Right on Feb. 12, Locklin Road on March 19, and Holy Rocka Rollaz on April 9. All concerts will take place at the Coon Rapids Civic Center at 11155 Robinson Dr. Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for senior citizens and $5 for children. Dessert and coffee are included. For more information visit www.coonrapidsmn.gov.

Admission is free, and free access to the fitness center will offered that day for people age 18 and over. More than 40 vendors will be present. Activities for kids, door prizes and mini-seminars also will be featured.

The community center is located at 400 10th St. NW, New Brigthon. For further information, go to www.newbrightonmn.gov or call guest services at 651-638-2130.

New Hope Parks and Recreation is offering a baby-sitters training course for 11- to 15-year-olds Friday, Jan. 2. The course is developed by the American Red Cross and includes activities, videos, role-playing and discussions. Participants will learn how to care for kids and infants, be a good leader and role model, handle emergencies and more.

The class will run from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at New Hope City Hall, 4401 Xylon Av. N. The fee is $75 for New Hope residents and $82 for nonresidents. To register or get more information, call the Parks and Recreation Office at 763-531-5151.

An Adult CPR/AED class and a separate Pediatric CPR/AED class will be held Saturday, Jan. 17, at New Hope City Hall. The first class, teaching skills for responding to emergencies affecting people ages 12 and over, will run from 9 a.m. to noon. The second, for treating victims from infants to age 12, will go from 1 to 4:30 p.m. To register or get more information, call 763-531-5151.