North news briefs: Santa's summer home is historical display in Anoka

Santa's summer home is historical displayThe Anoka County Historical Society has created a free lobby exhibit for December about the old Santa Claus Town, a classic roadside attraction based on Santa's imagined summer home, that once was along Hwy. 10 about 3 miles west of Anoka.

The exhibit, a history of Santa Claus Town and a collection of Santa collectibles, is open during regular museum hours at 2135 3rd Av. N. in Anoka.

Informational meeting set for 610 extensionCity, county and state officials are hosting a public informational meeting from 3:30 to 6 p.m. next Tuesday on plans for the final segment of Hwy. 610 from Elm Creek Boulevard to Interstate 94.

The project will complete the northwest link between the interstate and Hwy. 10. Officials will have a preliminary design available for public review.

The session will be held in the council chambers at the Maple Grove Government Center, 12800 Arbor Lakes Pkwy., Maple Grove.

Assistant principal wins national awardWoodland Elementary School's Toni Beckler was chosen as Minnesota's second National Outstanding Assistant Principal by the Minnesota Elementary School Principals' Association and the National Association of Elementary School principals.

The entire Woodland staff signed Beckler's nomination letter, which called her "the epitome of servant leadership."

Firefighter Santas ready for their routesThe Spring Lake Park-Moundsview-Blaine Fire Department has embarked on another year of collecting groceries for local food shelves on board fire trucks decorated for the holidays.

The department already completed routes in Blaine, but on Wednesday and Thursday, firefighters will take on parade routes in Spring Lake Park and Mounds View. For a description of the parade routes, visit www.sbmfire.com.

Prostate cancer group to meet todayA prostate cancer support group will meet at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at North Memorial Outpatient Center, 3435 W. Broadway, Robbinsdale. This will be a combined November and December meeting.

Members and caregivers will review 2012, share their personal journeys with prostate cancer and plan for 2013. All ideas and suggestions are welcome.

The meeting is free, and wives and friends are welcome. For further information, call 612-388-3588.

The Dec. 11 concert at the Coon Rapids Campus Performing Arts Center and the Dec. 14 show at Cambridge-Isanti High School will combine the Cambridge Campus Concert Choir, the Coon Rapids Campus Concert Choir, and the Chorale on one stage.

The Chamber Singers Ensemble will open the concerts, and an orchestra of the college's faculty and other professional musicians from the Twin Cities will accompany the choirs.

Both shows begin at 7:30 p.m. For more information, go to www.AnokaRamsey.edu.

Blaine woman's work featured on guideEvery two years, more than 122,000 households in Anoka County receive the Recyclopedia, a guide explaining how to reduce waste, recycle more and dispose of materials safely.

The cover of the 2013-2014 Recyclopedia will feature the photography of Blaine resident Nancy Wold, who has lived and gardened in Anoka County for 33 years.

"I have raised many monarch and swallowtail butterflies from egg to caterpillar to butterfly and documented their growth with photos. This transformation still seems magical to me," she said.