North news briefs: Master gardener plant sale next week

A plant sale May 12-13 at the Anoka Armory will raise funds for the Master Gardener program in Anoka County. The sale will run from 4 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 12, and 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, May 13. The armory is located at 408 E. Main St., Anoka.

Master gardeners are volunteers trained by the University of Minnesota Extension service who educate the public about horticulture in a number of ways.

The plant sale at the armory will include perennials, annuals, vegetables, herbs, natives, and more. For further information, go to http://anokamastergardeners.org/ or call 763-755-1280.

Blaine Police Explorer Post No. 3939 is accepting applications for the Explorers program, and will hold an informational meeting on May 19 at Blaine City Hall. Applications will be due at the end of the meeting, which will start at 6 p.m. and be held in the Mark Stack Room.

Applications can be obtained at the front desk of the Blaine Police Department, online at www.ci.blaine.mn.us or by contacting Officer Brad Nordby at bnordby@ci.blaine.mn.us.

To RSVP for the May 19 meeting or for any questions, contact Nordby by e-mail or by calling 763-717-2600 ext. 204.

Police Explorers are students with an interest in law enforcement careers who receive training in a number of aspects of police work. They are uniformed and participate in community events such as the 3M Championship at TPC, Blazin' Blaine Fourth of July events and Safety Camp. They also have the chance to ride along with a police officer once a month.

Garage sales will take place throughout Brooklyn Park from Thursday, May 14, through Saturday, May 16, as part of the city's community building initiative.

Printed maps of the sales will be available at:

• Brooklyn Park City Hall, May 11-15, during normal business hours

• The Community Activity Center, May 11–15, 8 a.m.-10:30 p.m. and Saturday, May 16, starting at 9 a.m.

Maps will be available at the North Precinct Police Department and Brooklyn Park library, too Call for information.

For more information, go to the city website, www.brooklynpark.org.

Columbia Heights has begun auditions for its ninth annual "Heights Idol" competition, which will be held June 27 as part of the city's Jamboree celebration. The contest is modeled after the TV show "American Idol" and will take place at Murzyn Hall.

All acts need to be reviewed and approved before the show. Auditions must be set up by appointment. For further information or to make an appointment, call Liz Bray at 763-706-3733.

Elk River is holding a "Name That Property" contest for 335 acres that it recently purchased west of downtown. The Houlton Farm property is about one-third forest and two-thirds open farmland and was bought with funds from the state's Outdoor Heritage Fund. It will be managed for native habitat for wildlife.

The deadline for the Name That Property contest is Friday, May 8.

• Contest is open to anyone;

• A $100 prize will be given to the winning entrant, with the name chosen by the city council;

• If more than one entrant submits the name that is ultimately chosen, the winner will be drawn randomly from a pool of these entries;

• The word "park" may not be used, and naming should be sensitive to the property's primary use;

• If no winner is selected, the Houlton Farm planning group will propose a name;

• If the contest winner isn't eligible for the $100 prize, it will go to the eligible participant whose entry most closely matches the selected name.

For further information, including access to an entry form, go to http://tinyurl.com/kusytfj.

Guardian Angels Senior Services of Elk River will present its third-annual style show on Saturday, May 16, at Central Lutheran Church, 1103 School St. NW., Elk River.

Doors will open at 8 a.m. and the show will start at 9 a.m. In addition to the style show, there will be a brunch, silent auction, plant sale, and more.

Susie Jones of WCCO Radio will be the special guest emcee.

The Maple Grove Farmers Market will hold its Spring Preview from 3 to 7 p.m. May 7 inside the Maple Grove Community Center.

The annual "sneak peek" at the farmers market season will feature rhubarb, asparagus, early spring greens and a variety of farmstead and specialty products. The outdoor farmers market starts its 12th season June 11, running Thursdays until Oct. 22 outside the Maple Grove Community Center.

For more information on hours and the market, go to maplegrovefarmersmarket.com or at Facebook.com/maplegrovefarmersmarket.

The University of Minnesota prostate cancer support group will meet May 14 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Hope Lodge, 2500 University Av. SE., Minneapolis. Dr. Susan O'Connor-Von, an associate professor at the U, will discuss spirituality and palliative care topics related to having prostate cancer. Family and friends are welcome to attend. There is no charge, and free parking is available behind the Lodge or on adjacent streets. For more information, call 612-388-3588.