North news briefs: Ghosts of Anoka, Civil War medicine and cemetery tours

The Anoka County Historical Society will be stepping up its schedule of Ghosts of Anoka walking tours this month. The tours, which go through downtown Anoka with a costumed guide accompanying participants, are scheduled twice a night on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through Oct. 25, and then twice each night from Oct. 26-31.

Tours will begin at 7 and 7:30 p.m. at the Anoka County History Center and Library, 2135 Third Av. N., Anoka, and last about 1.5 hours.

The cost is $7 for adults and $5 for youth, and reservations are required. Call 763-421-0600 or go to anokacountyhistory.org

As part of the Historical Society's monthly Civil War Lecture Series, Michael Murray will speak on Civil War Medicine at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2, at the History Center. Murray has worked at Historic Fort Snelling and the Landing in Shakopee for the past 20 years, specializing in medical history and historic trades. His presentation is free and open to the public.

Monuments to Life Cemetery Tours — guided tours of three Anoka County cemeteries that look at the history and the stories of individuals — will be offered next week. The first tour will be held at East Bethel Cemetery on Tuesday, Oct. 7; the second at Soderville Cemetery in Ham Lake on Thursday, Oct. 9, and the third at Oakwood Cemetery in Anoka, on Saturday, Oct. 11. Each tour begins at 7 p.m. and will take place rain or shine. The cost is $8 per tour or $21 for a three-tour discount. Advance registration is required. Call 763-421-0600 or go to anokacountyhistory.org

The Coon Rapids Sustainability Commission is offering a series of free workshops designed to promote and help people live a sustainable lifestyle. One workshop has already been held; the remaining schedule includes:

• Tuesday, Oct. 7 — "Local Food for Dinner 365 Days a Year."

• Monday, Oct. 20 — "Understanding and Reducing Home Energy Use."

• Monday, Oct. 27 — Kickoff meeting for CSI Coon Rapids (the Citizen Sustainability Initiative).

All meetings take place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Coon Rapids Civic Center, 11155 Robinson Dr. Preregistration is not required.

For further information, call the Coon Rapids Recycling Center at 763-767-6485.

Three open houses will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Oct. 11, at Coon Rapids fire stations. The events are part of Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 5-11).

• Fire Station 1, 1460 Egret Blvd. Station tours at 10:30, 11, and 11:30 a.m., and kitchen fire demonstrations at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

• Fire Station 2, 1199 121st Av. NW. Station tours at 10:30, 11 and 11:30 a.m. and rollover simulator demonstrations (showing how seat belts save lives) at 10:15, 10:45, 11:15 and 11:45.

• Fire Station 3, 2831 113th Av. NW. Station tours at 10:30, 11, 11:30 a.m. North Memorial medical helicopter landing at 11 a.m. and fire extinguisher training throughout the morning.

All stations will have cookies, coffee, juice and balloons as well.

The University of Minnesota prostate cancer support group will meet from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 9, at Hope Lodge, 2500 University Av. SE., Minneapolis. Progress in prostate cancer research will be the discussion topic; Scott Dehm, Ph.D., University of Minnesota, will be the featured guest. Wives, family and friends are welcome. There is no charge, parking is free, and light refreshments will be served. For further information, call 612-388-3588.

Barlow will share his experience with bipolar disorder and lead a discussion about mental health issues as part of National Mental Illness Awareness Week. The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Golden Valley council chambers at City Hall, 7800 Golden Valley Rd.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one in four adults and one in five children and teens experience a mental health problem every year.

The Showtime Chorus, which performs at community events, senior residences, nursing homes, churches and other functions, extends an invitation to singers 55 and older.

All it takes is an enjoyment of singing, as reflected in the group's questions: "Do you sing in the shower, hum along with CDs, sing in your church choir?"

Showtime puts on about two performances a month at venues like those mentioned above. The shows feature old favorites, show tunes and newer pop songs.

Hard-core distance runners, casual walkers and kids with energy to burn are all invited to participate in the Autumn Woods Classic from 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 11, at the Elm Creek Park Reserve in Maple Grove.

The event will feature a 10K run, 5K run/walk and 1K kids' run. Team 5K and 10K categories are also available. Other family activities include musical entertainment, a climbing wall, kids' obstacle course, crafts and displays. Free mini pumpkins will be given to the first 400 1K runners.

The cost for the 10K and 5K races is $32 for same-day registration and $27 for preregistration. Cost for the 1K kids' run is $9 for same-day and $5 for preregistration. The preregistration deadline is Oct. 6. For more information visit www.ThreeRiversParks.org or call 763-559-6700.

The League of Women Voters of Crystal, New Hope and East Plymouth will hold a public information session next Wednesday, Oct. 8, on the two levy questions that Robbinsdale Area Schools is putting to voters on Election Day. The forum will take place from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Education Service Center, 4148 Winnetka Av. N., New Hope.

The first question is a request to renew the current operating levy, providing about $20 million per year. Approval of this question would not increase current taxes. The second is a request to add a technology levy to increase technology access for students, as well as expand technology for teaching and learning, the district says. Approval of this question would result in a property tax increase of about $7 per month on a $195,000 home.

Further information about the Nov. 4 referendum can be obtained at www.rdale.org or by calling 763-504-8022 or sending an e-mail to referendum@rdale.org.

The Robbinsdale Police Department will host a crime prevention association meeting Oct. 1. The meeting will take place at 7 p.m. at police headquarters, 4101 Hubbard Av. N., and is open to the public. Police Chief Jim Franzen will give information about crime prevention in the community.

Plymouth's Parks and Recreation Department is seeking vendors for its third annual Plymouth Pet Expo on Oct. 25.

The event will be held 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 25 at the Plymouth Creek Center Fieldhouse, 14800 34th Av. N. Vendors offer pet care, merchandise, products, services or other expertise relating to domestic pets.

Last year's event hosted 35 vendors and was attended by more than 500 people. Register by Oct. 10. For vendor booth information, call Dan Lauer at 763-509-5283 or e-mail dlauer@plymouthmn.gov. For more information, go to www.plymouthmn.gov/petexpo.