North news briefs: MacPhail names teen advisory council

MacPhail names teen advisory councilThe MacPhail Center for Music has named its new teen advisory council for the 2011-12 school year to help identify and organize music programs for teens and get them involved in all styles of music.

The council has 14 members ages 13-18 from schools all across the Twin Cities.

Members are Carter Roland, Austen Fisher, Dylan Perese, Cyus Safinia, Julia Summers, Jonathan Curoe, Madeline Roen, Carah Faggétt, Amirah Ellison and Shruthi Rajasekar.

Open houses at fire stationsThe Spring Lake Park-Blaine-Mounds View Fire Department has two more open houses scheduled the weekend of Oct. 8-9.

Activities will include spraying a fire hose, demonstrations of extracting people from vehicles, fire extinguisher training, home safety information and more.

Safety devices such as smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms and flameless candles also will be available for purchase.

Here's the schedule:

• Sunday, Oct. 9, Station 1, 1710 County Hwy. 10, Spring Lake Park, 1-4 p.m.

Sock hop is coming to Murzyn HallMurzyn Hall will be the site for a 1950s vintage sock hop from 7 to 10 p.m. Oct. 7. The event is presented by the Anoka County Historical Society and will feature '50s and '60s music by the TC Cats, as well as food, beverages, a silent auction and other activities. Murzyn Hall is located at 530 Mill St. in Columbia Heights.

Tickets are $20 in advance and can be bought at the Anoka County History Center and Library, 2135 3rd Av. N., Anoka. Tickets also will be available at the door for $25.

For more information, go to www.ac-hs.org .

Taiko drums open performance seriesThe taiko drumming of Mu Daiko will open the 2011-12 Performance Series presented by the Elk River-based Arts Alliance. Mu Daiko will take to the Zabee Theater stage at Elk River High School at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 8.

Elk River High School is located at 900 School St. Tickets for the Mu Daiko performance are $20 for adults, $15 for Arts Alliance members and seniors, and $10 for students. They're available at the Arts Alliance Gallery, 716 Main St., Elk River; at Coborns, 19425 Evans St. NW. in Elk River; or online at www.elkriverart.org. They'll also be available at the door.

Solar energy seminars underway at librariesSeminars on solar energy for homes and businesses are being offered at Hennepin County libraries over the next two months, presented by Blue Horizon Energy.

Experts will discuss the technology available and how it can save on costs and provide other benefits.

The next one is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at the Sumner Library, 611 Van White Memorial Blvd., Minneapolis.

To register for this program or to see others in the county, go to www.hclib.org. And for more on Blue Horizon Energy, go to www.bluehorizonsolar.com.

The school is open to all ages. Offerings include vocal and instrumental lessons, early childhood music classes for ages newborn to 8 years, ensembles (hand drums, rock 'n' roll, choir) and more.

Classes are offered at two Minneapolis locations: 3751 Sheridan Av. N. and 1500 6th St. NE.

Further information is available at 612-618-0219 or at www.camdenmusicschool.com.

Cancer support group to meet todayA free prostate cancer support group will meet at 5:30 p.m. today at North Memorial Outpatient Center, 3435 W. Broadway, Robbinsdale.

Dr. Kurt Nisi, radiation oncologist, will discuss current and future radiation treatments and how they might be used with prostate cancer patients.