North news briefs: Civil War, sheriff's programs coming up in Anoka

A presentation on "Art and Music of the Civil War" is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5, at the Anoka County History Center, 2135 Third Av. N., Anoka.

The presenters will be illustrator David Geister and author and musician Patricia Bauer, who together created the children's book "B is for Battle Cry, A Civil War Alphabet." (PLEASE NOTE: A notice about this event that appeared in the Jan. 7 North Extra incorrectly gave the time as 2 p.m.)

On Saturday, Feb. 7, at 2 p.m., the Rum River Library in Anoka will be the site of a program on the "History of the Anoka County Sheriff's Office." The event will pull from the book "Keepers of the County: Crime and the Anoka County Sheriff's Office," by Vickie Wendel. The library is located at 4201 6th Av., Anoka.

Both events are free.

United Methodist Church of Anoka will be the site for "Anoka Kicks Arts," a fine arts festival featuring music, painting, photography and performance. The event is free and will run from 3 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 25, at the church, 850 South St., Anoka. Among the activities are kids karaoke, a giant art project, ice cream art, and mime classes. For further information, call 763-421-2378.

A production of the Stephen Sondheim musical "Into the Woods" will open at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13, at the Lyric Arts Main Street Stage in Anoka. The show features characters from the world of the Brothers Grimm, including Cinderella, Rapunzel, witches, giants and others.

In addition to the opening night show, performances will be given at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 14, and 2 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 15, and then at 7 p.m. Thursdays, 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays through March 8. Tickets are $16-26 and can be reserved by calling the Lyric Arts box office at 763-422-1838 or going to www.lyricarts.org.

Duckson was nominated for his role in solving a stolen car ring, according to a news release from the Coon Rapids department. Duckson is a 21-year member of the Coon Rapids Police Force, including 13 years in the Investigations Division.

Hennepin County's Human Services and Public Health department is seeking volunteers to serve as greeters at its northwest suburban human services center in Brooklyn Center.

The greeters will welcome and guide visitors, answer questions and help with special projects. The county is looking for people who can commit to two four-hour shifts each workweek, in the morning or afternoon, for at least three months.

Candidates must be 18 years old or older and be good communicators and team players. They should also be reliable self-starters who are respectful of client confidentiality and should enjoy working with diverse populations. Bilingual skills are a plus, the county says.

Interested candidates should call 612-348-4749 or contact rosemary.carpenter@hennepin.us.

The Feb. 5 kickoff event, which will benefit the American Heart Association, includes painting and pottery at Color Me Mine studio during two sessions, one at 5 p.m. and one at 6 p.m. There will also be a face painter and gift bags for children who attend the studio, located off I-94/I-694 at Hemlock Lane in Maple Grove.

The cost is $10 per piece; 100 percent of the proceeds will go to the American Heart Association. For preregistration, which is required, call 763-424-0504, ext. 0.

Musicians from the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra will perform at 7 p.m. Feb. 5 at the Capri Theater, 2027 W. Broadway, Minneapolis. Free open-seating tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis by registering at www.thecapritheater.org. Tickets for reserved seats are $10 for adults and $5 for children and are available at thespco.org or by calling the SPCO ticket office at 651-291-1144.

Minnehaha Academy will hold a pair of admission events in the coming days, one on Thursday, Jan. 22, at its lower and middle school and the other on Monday, Jan. 26 at its upper school. The events will provide an overview of the schools and will include teachers, administrators, parents and students.

Thursday's event, for prekindergarten through Grade 8, will begin at 6:45 p.m. at 4200 W. River Pkwy., Minneapolis. Monday's, for Grades 9-12, also will start at 6:45 p.m. and will take place at 3100 W. River Pkwy., Minneapolis.

For further information, contact the Office of Admission at 612-728-7756 or admission@MinnehahaAcademy.net. You do NOT need to RSVP for the events.

Robbinsdale Area Schools will hold a number of meetings for parents whose children will be entering kindergarten in the fall:

• Districtwide kindergarten information and registration nights will take place at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, at all neighborhood elementary schools.

• The School of Engineering and Arts will host a K-5 information night at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27, at the school, 1751 Kelly Dr., Golden Valley.

• The Robbinsdale Spanish Immersion School will host a kindergarten information night at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, at the school, 8808 Medicine Lake Road, New Hope.

More information is available at rdale.org, under "Enrollment Center."

A number of "Empty Bowls" events — activities that raise funds to fight hunger — are coming up in the Robbinsdale Area School district:

• Thursday, Jan. 29, 6:30-9 p.m., wine tasting and dinner at Nonna Rosa's restaurant, 4168 W. Broadway Av., Robbinsdale. The cost is $45. of which $15 will go to Empty Bowls. For more, go to http://emptybowlsrobbinsdale.org/calendar/

• Tuesday, March 3, 4-7 p.m., fifth annual Empty Bowls events at Sandburg Learning Center, 2400 Sandburg Lane, Golden Valley. For more, http://emptybowlsrobbinsdale.org/calendar/

In addition, community bowl-making events will be held at 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and noon on Saturday, Jan. 24, and Feb. 14 at Robbinsdale Middle School and at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 29, and Feb. 12 at Plymouth Middle School. Groups are welcome for these activities, and reservations are encouraged but not required. Call 763-504-6990 or go to http://emptybowlsrobbinsdale.org/calendar/

The Robbin Gallery is located at 4915 42nd Av. N. in Robbinsdale and is open from noon to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays and also from 5:30-8:30 p.m. on Thursdays.