North news briefs: Pop-up Book Nooks offer a fun way to read

Young Brooklyn Park residents can spend their mornings in the park reading their favorite books.

The city is hosting a free summerlong program called Pop-up Book Nooks for students of all ages. The sessions give them a chance to read outside, alongside friends and neighbors. Students also can do small projects after reading.

Pop-up Book Nooks are underway and will continue until Aug. 13. They take place at different parks around the city:

• Mondays from 9-10 a.m. at Lad Park (8001 Lad Pkwy.) and from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at Norwood Park (8100 Norwood Av.).

• Tuesdays from 9-10 a.m. at College Park (8233 W. Broadway) and from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at Hamilton Park (6101 Candlewood Dr.).

• Wednesdays from 9-10 a.m. at Sunny Acres Park (5425 83rd Av.) and from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at Norwood Park (8100 Newton Av.).

• Thursdays, except July 2, from 9-10 a.m. at Central Park (8440 Regent Av.) and from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at Hamilton Park (6101 Candlewood Dr.).

The Ninth Annual Heights Idol talent showcase will take place Saturday evening as part of this week's Heights Jamboree, Columbia Heights' annual city celebration. The competition, featuring youth and adult singing categories, will take place at 6:30 p.m. outside Murzyn Hall, 530 Mill St. (In case of bad weather, it will be inside Murzyn Hall.) Judges will be Meisha Johnson of FOX 9 news; Loni Love of My Talk 107; and Donny Chase, front man for the Prince tribute band Chase & Ovation. A fireworks show will follow.

The Minneapolis Police Department issued a warning to residents last week about "a scam that appears to be occurring the metro area."

The department said residents have reported getting calls, from men and women, whose Caller ID shows a number of 612-673-5705, which is the main number for the Police Department's Fifth Precinct.

The caller identifies himself or herself as being with the IRS and says the Police Department is going to put the person being called "behind bars." Some calls seek personal information, while some are just threatening, police say.

The department reminds people never to give out personal information over the phone, regardless of who the callers say they are, and notes that the Police Department would "never engage in calls of this nature."

"Summer Camp Capri," an arts camp for students who have just completed grades 5-8, will be offered July 6-Aug. 7 at the Capri Theater, 2027 W. Broadway, Minneapolis.

It will be held Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and is free. Teaching artists will include Greta Oglesby, Dennis Spears, T. Mychael Rambo and others.

For further information or to register, go to www.thecapritheater.org. You can also contact Camp Capri company manager Kiana Batteau at kbatteau@pcyc-mpls.org or Capri Theater director James Scott at pcyc-mpls.org, 612-643-2024.

A prostate cancer support group will meet from 5:30-7 p.m. June 24 at North Memorial Medical Center, 3300 Oakdale Av. N., Robbinsdale. The session, in the Vance DeMong classroom at the main hospital building, will be an open discussion offering participants a chance to talk about their experiences with prostate cancer to learn, support and connect as a group.

There is no charge and family members and friends are welcome. Parking is available in the adjacent hospital ramp. For more, call 612-388-3588.