North news briefs: Blaine celebrates a milestone birthday

The city of Blaine will mark its 50th birthday next Wednesday, Dec. 3, at City Hall. Blaine was named a city in 1964, after years of being a township and then a village.

Festivities will run from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. include cake, balloons, historical displays, as well as an announcement of the "Calendar of Activities, for the involving year to connect Blaine's past, present and future!"

A Mainly for Kids production of "Beauty and the Beast" will open at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, at the Lyric Arts Main Street Stage in Anoka. Performances will also be given at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on three Saturdays: Dec. 6, 13 and 20. In addition, school day matinees will be offered on Dec. 11, 12, 18 and 19 (contact the box office at 763-422-1838 for more information).

Tickets are $10-18. Go to www.lyricarts.org or call 763-422-1838.

This holiday season, Lyric Arts is also presenting "A Christmas Carol." The theater is located at 420 E. Main St.

Anoka's annual tree lighting ceremony will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at City Hall Plaza, 2015 1st Av. N. The event will feature bonfires, holiday music, free horse-drawn trolley rides, Santa Claus and more.

The lighting itself will happen at 6 p.m.

Anoka County and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture will partner to bring low-interest loans to land owners for repair or replacement of failing home well or septic systems. This program is a push to encourage practices that improve water quality.

For more information, contact Barb McKusick at 763-323-5722 or barb.mckusick@co.anoka.mn.us.

Earlier in November, Anoka County Sheriff James Stuart held a swearing-in ceremony for three new staff members.

Kyle Jorgensen was sworn in as a deputy sheriff and will serve in the patrol division. Matthew Madson was sworn in as a detention deputy and will serve in the jail division. Madson and Jorgensen are both graduates of Alexandria Technical and Community College's Law Enforcement program.

Shawn Gallagher was sworn in as the quality assurance manager for the Tri-County Regional Forensic Lab. Gallagher holds bachelor's and master's degrees from North Dakota State University. He spent more than 15 years at the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension as a forensic scientist.

Among other activities, the workshop will look at economic classes; review research on causes of poverty; examine the impact of poverty on family structures; and identify ways to improve relationships.

A light breakfast at 7:15 a.m. will be followed by the workshop, which will run from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. There is a $15 fee for the workshop (meals included) and registration is required. Space is limited and registration will close Dec. 8.

For more information or to register, go to www.brooklynpark.org/events/bridges-out-of-poverty-workshop or call 763-493-8333.

St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Columbia Heights will host its 19th free community Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday. The dinner is free and open to all individuals and families in need of a welcoming place to spend the holiday, the church says.

The meal consists of turkey, stuffing, vegetables, mashed potatoes and gravy, and a variety of desserts.

Volunteers from St. Matthew Lutheran and the community of Columbia Heights and surrounding suburbs will help prepare and serve the meal.

Reservations are not required but would be appreciated. Please call the church office at 763-788-9427.

St. Matthew Lutheran Church is located at 4101 Washington St. NE, Columbia Heights.

The Columbia Heights Public Library Foundation will hold its holiday fundraiser on Sunday, Dec. 14, at the Historic Heights Theatre, 3951 Central Av. NE. The event will feature the Alfred Hitchcock movie "The Man Who Knew Too Much." The theater organist will play at 1 p.m. and the movie will follow. Tickets are $10 each and will be available at the door.

With voter approval last month of a levy request, Columbia Heights will be building a new Library. The Foundation will continue raising funds to enhance the new library.

The department said firefighters found that the fire had extended through the vent hood fan into a cabinet above, where two 1-gallon containers of cooking oil began to melt. The stovetop extinguisher apparently was enough to keep the fire from igniting the contents of the cabinet.

"Cooking fires are extremely dangerous. These stovetop fire extinguishers can make the difference between life and death, and not enough people know about them," said Fire Chief John Berg.

"It is extremely important that people do not store cooking oil above the stove," Berg said. "This had the potential to be a really bad fire."

The department said stovetop extinguishers are available at most hardware stores at a cost of under $50 for two canisters. The department credited residential management companies with installing the items.

The North Memorial prostate cancer support group will meet from 5:30-7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 3, in the Vance de Mong classroom in the Main Hospital Building of North Memorial Hospital, Robbinsdale. Coping with the treatment side effects of urinary incontinence/erectile dysfunction will be discussed with Dr. Dean Tortorelis, urologist. Wives, family and friends are welcome. There is no charge, park in the Hospital Ramp, and light refreshments served. For further information, call 612-388-3588.