North news briefs: New Castle Field ready for its debut in Anoka

The first baseball game on the new Castle Field will be played on Wednesday evening, July 3. A ribbon-cutting ceremony at the site near Anoka High School will start at 6 p.m., and the game will begin at 6:30. It will feature former Anoka American Legion team members.

The original Castle Field was built in 1950 and saw duty until last summer.

There will be limited play this summer at the new site along Seventh Avenue. For further information, visit the Castle Field page on the city of Anoka's website: www.ci.anoka.mn.us

The Anoka County Parks and Recreation Department is offering bike rentals at the Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park, Bunker Hills Regional Park (Campground Visitor Center), and Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park (Campground Visitor Center). Prices range from $5 per hour for youth bikes to $8 per hour for tandem bikes. Helmets and locks are provided at no extra charge.

For further information, call 763-757-3920.

Brooklyn Park will open a fishing pond next Wednesday in front of its Community Activity Center, at 5600 85th Av. N. A grand opening will be held that day featuring the annual Cops n' Kids fishing contest (all spots are filled).

The pond, intended mainly for kids and senior citizens, was built with help from area businesses and organizations and the state Department of Natural Resources. The project was led by Police Inspector Mark Bruley and streets superintendent Steve Nauer.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation will host an open house today to answer questions about the Hwy. 10 resurfacing and improvement project.

Work begins in July and continues through October. Crews will be working between Fairoak Avenue in Anoka and Hanson Boulevard in Coon Rapids. Motorists will encounter lane and shoulder closures.

The open house runs from 5 to 7 p.m. tonight at Coon Rapids High School, 2340 Northdale Blvd. NW.

The city's three fire stations and police station are open to the public Wednesday, June 19, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the city's annual public safety open house.

Residents can tour jail cells, watch a demonstration by Hennepin County's K-9 unit and get information about everything from the bike patrol to police investigations and crime prevention at the police station.

The police station and Fire Station 1 are at 7800 Golden Valley Road. Fire Station 2 is at 400 Turner's Crossroad and Fire Station 3 is at 3700 Golden Valley Road.

Family activities are the focus of the annual Golden Valley Fire Relief Association Street Dance from 5 p.m. to midnight on Saturday, June 22, at the Chester Bird American Legion at Hwy. 100 and Glenwood Av.

Activities at the free event include food, a DJ for the kids from 5 to 7:30 p.m., live music from 8 p.m. to midnight and fireworks at dusk.

Blaine neighborhood organizers can now register their "Night to Unite" block parties with the city and get event ideas, a planning kit and coloring pages. The annual event celebrated in neighborhoods across the country will be Aug. 6. Go to http://www.ci.blaine.mn.us/ to register.

Safe Kids Anoka County is sponsoring a bike helmet sale and fitting from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 19, at the Anoka County Sheriff's Office, 13301 Hanson Blvd. NW in Andover.

Jill Johns, who has for served 16 years on the city of Ramsey's parks and recreation commission, will run against Tom Heifort for the Ramsey City Council seat that was vacated when David Elvig resigned in April.

The special election will be held Tuesday, July 30. The winner will serve the remainder of Elvig's term, through the end of 2014.

Johns and Heifort were the only candidates to file.

A prostate cancer support group will meet at 5:30 p.m. next Wednesday, June 26, at North Memorial Outpatient Center, 3435 W. Broadway, Robbinsdale.

Medical technologist Charles Weinzierl will report on a new development in detecting and categorizing prostate cancer. The Prostate Health Index analyzes genetic and molecular structures of the prostate to determine the extent and aggressiveness of the cancer.