North news briefs: Home & Garden Tour set for July 13

The annual tour of historic homes and gardens in Anoka will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 13. This year's tour focuses on homes near the Mississippi River east of the Rum River. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 on the day of the tour. Advance and online sales will end Saturday, July 12, at 4 p.m. For information or to buy tickets, go to www.AnokaCountyHistory.org or call 763-421-0600.

Anoka County Parks will hold controlled archery deer hunts at three of its parks this fall.

Hunters may apply now to participate in the hunts, which will take place at Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park, Bunker Hills Regional Park and Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Park Reserve. An aerial deer survey conducted in 2013-14 showed large deer populations, with 143 deer seen around Rice Creek, 90 in Bunker Hills and 49 by the Coon Rapids Dam. The county says high, uncontrolled deer populations exceed the carrying capacity of the land and create public safety concerns, including car-deer collisions.

To be eligible to hunt, participants must complete a one-time-only bow hunter education course, submit an application and signed hunt program rules, attend a pre-hunt orientation, and pay the $15 program fee.

Applications are available at www.anokacounty.us/1002/Controlled-Archery-Deer-Hunt-Information.

A ribbon-cutting at 6:30 p.m. today, June 25, will celebrate the completion of Phase II of improvements at Andrews Park, 7200 117th Av. N.

Phase II created a splash pad; a new, larger picnic shelter, and a remodeled building for parks and recreation programs. The city hopes to begin Phase III — work on the softball complex — in August, pending council approval of a contractor.

Adult yoga classes will be offered Tuesday mornings from July 8 through Aug. 26 at Lions Coon Creek Park. The one-hour classes will start at 10 a.m. at Shelter No. 1 and be led by certified yoga instructors.

No experience is necessary. There is a class fee of $30, and preregistration is required by July 3. To register, go to www.coonrapidsmn.gov

Lions Creek Park is located at 1664 119th Av. NW, Coon Rapids,

The Coon Rapids police and fire departments will hold a two-day safety camp next month for Coon Rapids students entering fourth and fifth grades this fall. The camp will take place July 22-23 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, at Sand Creek Park, 1008 Northdale Blvd. Topics will include water, fire and electrical safety, basic first aid, and how to use 911.

The fee is $40, which covers supplies, a T-shirt, snacks and lunch, as well as transportation to and from the swimming pool. Scholarships are available for children in the free and reduced-price lunch program.

For further information, call the Coon Rapids Fire Department at 763-767-6429 or e-mail schapin@coonrapidsmn.gov

A prostate cancer support group will meet at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 25, at North Memorial Medical Center, 3300 Oakdale Av. N., Robbinsdale.

Dr. Hengbing Wang, medical oncologist from North Memorial, will speak about advanced medical treatments for prostate cancer. There is no charge, and family and friends are welcome. For more information, call 612-388-3588.

Sherburne County law enforcement and community groups will discuss heroin addiction at two forums in July.

The Sheriff's Office and Know the Truth will host the events, which are free and open to the public. The first forum will run from 7 to 9 p.m. July 9, at Elk River High School. The second is 7 to 9 p.m. July 30 at the Becker High School.