North news briefs: Families invited to free Earth Day event in Lino Lakes

Anoka County is hosting a free family Earth Day celebration from 12:30 to 3 p.m. on April 20 at the Wargo Nature Center, 7701 Main St., Lino Lakes. Activities and features will include a climbing wall, canoeing, Earth Day Fair and refreshments. The Roe Family Singers will perform.

Guests are invited to learn about the nature center's native gardens and make their own earth art project.

The Anoka County Parks system will offer a free Kids Fishing Clinic on Saturday, May 4. The event will run from 9 a.m. to noon at Cenaiko Lake located in Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park, 9750 Egret Blvd., Coon Rapids. It's open to children age 5 and up.

Kids will learn the basics of lure selection, casting, boat and water safety and fishing ethics. They'll also receive a fishing kit provided by Fishing Pro-Mo's. Participants and chaperones will be served lunch including a hot dog, chips and soda.

No reservations are required. Registration closes at 11 a.m. the day of the event.

Friday is the deadline to apply for a vacancy that exists on the Blaine Planning Commission.

The seat carries a two-year term starting this month and representing Ward 2 in the northern part of the city.

Interested Blaine residents can call the city clerk's office at 763-785-6122 for an application and additional information. The application should be submitted to Catherine Ekstrand, deputy city clerk, at cekstrand@ci.blaine.mn.us.

Bicycle maintenance and repair will be the subject of a "Library Laboratory" program Thursday at the Hennepin County Library system's Brookdale branch, 6125 Shingle Creek Pkwy., Brooklyn Center.

The how-to session will run from 7 to 7:45 p.m. Thad Cialek of Freewheel Bike will lead the session. For more information, call 612-543-5600.

Coon Rapids will host a "green expo" featuring sustainable living options on Saturday at the Coon Rapids Civic Center, 11155 Robinson Drive.

The event is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will feature local businesses, services and speakers.

The event will run from 5 to 9:30 p.m. at Bunker Hills Golf Club, 12800 Bunker Prairie Road in Coon Rapids.

Achieve Services is a day training and habilitation program that provides work and other opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities. The art being auctioned will include works by both local professional and Achieve artists.

Tickets are $75 per person, and those planning to attend are asked to RSVP by April 19. For more information, contact Achieve at 763-783-4909 or go to www.achieveservices.org.

Champlin will hold its annual citywide garage sale May 2-4.

If you'd like to host a sale, the registration deadline is Friday, April 12.

Springbrook Nature Center staff is looking for teenage volunteers to serve as junior leaders at its summer youth programs.

Teens play games, prepare snacks, help with art projects, and spend time outside. Call the nature center for more details at 763-572-3588. Applications are available online at www.springbrooknaturecen ter.org.

Information and inspiration for home improvement projects will be available from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at the Northwest Suburban Remodeling Fair at the Crystal Community Center.

The free fair will include do-it-yourself workshops, and exhibitors, contractors, architects, city inspectors and other professionals will be on hand. The fair is sponsored by the cities of Crystal, Brooklyn Park, Brooklyn Center, Maple Grove, New Hope, Osseo, Plymouth and Robbinsdale.

For further information, go to www.nwremodelingfair.com.

Residents of Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Champlin, Crystal, Golden Valley, Maple Grove, New Hope, Osseo and Robbinsdale will be among those taking part.

Registration is open now for the May competition, in which participants track their physical activity online for a month to try to win the Most Active Community award.

The friendly competition is intended to get people moving and raise awareness of the health benefits of an active lifestyle.