North news briefs: Fine arts festival in Anoka

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 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.

The Anoka County-Blaine Airport will host one of the country's five regional "fly-ins" by the largest organization of general aviation pilots.

The Aircraft Owner and Pilots Association announced last week that the airport will host the daylong convention of aviation enthusiasts on Aug. 22. Other fly-ins will be held in Maryland, California, Colorado and Tennessee.

For more information visit http://www.aopa.org/Community-and-Events/AOPA-Fly-In/2015.

Hennepin County is seeking Brooklyn Park residents, businesses and property owners for a "Community Working Group" that will offer insights for a planned light-rail station at Brooklyn Boulevard that would be part of the Bottineau Light Rail project.

The group will meet once a month for several months to discuss how the station fits into the local community. Members will look at issues such as transportation, urban design, land use and infrastructure that would improve surrounding neighborhoods.

Additional information can be found on Hennepin County's website at http://www.hennepin.us/bottineau and on the Metropolitan Council's website at http://www.metrocouncil.org/Transportation/Projects/Future-Projects/Bottineau-Transitway.aspx.

After two public hearings, the Fridley City Council voted 3-2 last month against a resolution to adopt an organized garbage collection. Many residents complained that too many garbage trucks travel over newly paved streets, causing more damage, while others felt it was their freedom to choose their own hauling company.

Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners (IOCP) will host a "Welcome Baby Celebration" to honor the dreams it holds for children on Martin Luther King Day.

The event will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 19, at 1605 County Rd. 101 N., Plymouth. IOCP staff, volunteers, board members, clients and community members will gather to honor the ways in which various cultures welcome babies into the world.

Guests will be offered light refreshments and are encouraged to bring unwrapped baby gifts to donate to IOCP's Baby Layette Program.

For a list of most needed items, go to www.iocp.org/events/mlk-day-welcome-baby-celebration.

All are welcome, but please RSVP by e-mailing swilliams@iocp.org or calling 763-489-7515 with the number of attendees and age of any children.

Ham Lake Park will be the primary setting once again for Ham Lake's Snowbowl celebration on Feb. 7. The event is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and feature a wide range of activities, including a vintage snowmobile ride and expo, a dog pull contest, a medallion hunt, kids' activities, a broomball tournament, sleigh rides and more. A snow sculpture contest will begin the evening before. Purchase of a $3 button is needed for admission.

Ham Lake Park is located just east of Highway 65 on 153rd Avenue NE. For further information, including specific event registration, times and details, go to www.hamlakecc.org/snowbowl.html.

A workshop on memory loss and dementia will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20, at the Monticello Community Center, 505 Walnut St., Monticello. Amy House, a dementia trainer and educator from Senior Helpers of Big Lake, will be the presenter. The cost is $5. To register, call Faith in Action at 763-263-4277 or email info@gra-fia.com. You can also register in person at the Community Center. Free on-site respite care is available by reservation.

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

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

• Robbinsdale Spanish Immersion School will host a kindergarten information night for parents only at 6 p.m. Jan. 29, at the school, 8808 Medicine Lake Rd., New Hope

The lottery for the district's magnet schools closes at 5 p.m. Feb. 27. Families of incoming kindergartners will be able to access the magnet application online by going to https://magnetlottery.rdale.org/. Paper copies of the magnet applications will also be available at all schools and at the Education Service Center, 4148 Winnetka Av. N., New Hope.

Incoming kindergarten students with siblings currently enrolled in these schools who meet the application deadline will automatically be enrolled through the sibling preference policy. If the school has more applicants than space available, new kindergarten students will be selected by lottery. More information is at rdale.org under "Enrollment Center."

Holy Nativity Lutheran Church is hosting a fundraiser next month featuring professional wrestlers to support youth ministry summer programs.

The event will be held at 6 p.m. Feb. 7 at the church, 3900 Winnetka Av. N., New Hope It includes stars of Midwest Wrestling Entertainment. It's the seventh year the church has hosted the wrestlers for the fundraiser, which will support youth trips this summer.

Tickets cost $12 ($2 off with a canned food donation); tickets for a family of four or more people costs $35 and children ages 7 and under are free.

For more information, go to facebook.com/events/1564639267082442.

KAREN ZAMORA, KELLY SMITH, KIM MCGUIRE, JIM KERN