North news briefs: Open houses ahead at fire stations

October is National Fire Prevention Month, the week of Oct. 5-11 is Fire Prevention Week, and open houses are being held in the coming days and weeks at numerous fire departments. Here's a partial rundown in the north metro:

The Columbia Heights Fire Department has an open house scheduled for 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, at the station at 825 41st Av. NE, Columbia Heights. Among the highlights: station tours, demonstrations, fire truck displays, information booths, antique fire truck rides, more.

The Spring Lake Park-Blaine-Mounds View Fire Department will hold open houses:

• Saturday, Sept. 27, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Fire Station 1, 1710 County Hwy. 10, Spring Lake Park.

• Monday, Sept. 29, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Fire Station 2, 1149 89th Av. NE, Blaine.

• Saturday, Oct. 4, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Fire Station 3, 11920 Ulysses St. NE, Blaine.

• Saturday, Oct. 11, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 10290 Lever St. NE, Blaine.

The Fridley Fire Department will hold an open house from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4, at Fire Station 1, 6431 University Av. NE. The event will feature squad car rides, a live burn demonstration, auto extrication with the "Jaws of Life", a bounce house, Dalmatians, snacks, safety information and more.

Fire Prevention Week coincides with the anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which occurred on Oct. 8-9 of that year. On those same days, an even more destructive fire burned in Peshtigo, Wis., killing an estimated 1,150 people and destroying 1.2 million acres.

Fire Prevention Week has a theme each year; this year's is "Smoke Alarms Save Lives: Test Yours Every Month."

A variety of items will be accepted for recycling from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 27, at the Anoka Public Works facility, 501 Pierce St., Anoka.

The event is open to Anoka County residents. Small businesses within the city of Anoka may bring up to a pick-up truck load of items.

Other items will be accepted for various fees, such as TVs, computer monitors, mattresses and tires.

Some items will NOT be accepted: child car seats, furniture, garbage, composting materials, building materials, construction debris, household hazardous waste (paint, oil, propane tanks, for example).

For further information, call 763-576-2725 before noon on Friday, Sept. 26, or email pbowman@ci.anoka.mn.us, also before noon on Friday. You can also go to the city's website: www.ci.anoka.mn.us

East Bethel City Hall will be the site for a "Meet the Candidates" session from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 2. The three candidates for mayor and three running for two City Council seats will be invited. Residents will have a chance to ask questions.

City Hall is located at 2241 221st Av. NE, East Bethel.

Hennepin County is offering a six-week "Master Recycler/Composter" class that will begin next Wednesday, Oct. 1, and continue each Wednesday evening through Nov. 5. The idea is to have master recycler/composters spread reduce-and-recycle practices in the community.

The classes will run from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 and Nov. 5 at the Matthews Recreation Center, 2313 28th Av. S., Minneapolis. Participants must attend each class; there are also two optional field trips set for Friday, Oct. 10, and Friday, Oct. 17, that will run from about 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The topics covered will include waste prevention, recycling processes, household hazardous waste and alternatives, organics recycling and home composting, and more.

Graduates agree to volunteer a total of 30 hours, doing such things as staffing booths at events and working on waste reduction and recycling projects.

You must live or work in Hennepin County to take the class. The cost is $30 and includes all course materials. For more information, including registration materials, go to http://www.hennepin.us/masterrecyclers or call Master Recycler/Composter Program coordinator Carolyn Collopy at 612-596-0993.

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 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.

A prostate cancer support group will meet at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24, at North Memorial Medical Center, Vance DeMong classroom, 3300 Oakdale Av, N., Robbinsdale. Linda Li, acupuncturist with North Memorial Clinics, will discuss treating prostate cancer using acupuncture techniques. A question and answer segment will follow. There is no charge, and family and friends are welcome. For more, call 612-388-3588.