North news briefs: Saturday will be recycling drop-off day in Anoka

Anoka will hold a spring recycling drop-off day on Saturday morning at its Public Works Building, 501 Pierce St.

Anoka County residents and small businesses can drop off items from 8 a.m. until noon.

Businesses with up to 50 employees can bring up to a pickup truckload of accepted recyclable materials. Vehicle batteries, freezers and refrigerators are free, but minimal fees are charged for items such as tires and fluorescent light bulbs.

The event is funded by Anoka County and a state grant from the Select Committee on Recycling and the Environment.

For more information, go to the city's website at www.ci.anoka.mn.us. (Please note: Last week's Town Square included this item under a city heading of Fridley, although it correctly stated that the event is in Anoka.)

Another season of "Ghosts of Anoka" walking tours will begin next month.

The tours, presented by the Anoka County Historical Society, are offered on the first and third Thursdays of the month and weave "history, conjecture and fact, sprinkled with a flair for the dramatic and seasoned by good storytelling," as the society puts it.

The city of Blaine's Safety Services Division will sell bike helmets and host a fitting session from 4 to 8 p.m. May 7 at City Hall, 10801 Town Square Drive NE.

Bell bike helmets, which comply with federal safety standards, will be available for $13 each, in sizes ranging from toddler to adult. City safety staff will help fit the helmets.

For more information, contact Andrea Hunt of the Blaine Police Department at 763-785-6113 or ahunt@ci.blaine.mn.us.

Champlin's 22nd Annual Citywide Garage Sale will take place May 2–4.

More than 115 households are taking part, and maps and sale descriptions will be available starting Friday at city offices and local gas stations.

The walkway over the Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park was closed last week to prepare for upcoming construction.

New dam gates will be installed this year and next to make the 100-year-old dam a stronger barrier to stop Asian carp from getting into the upper Mississippi River.

During the $16 million construction project, the walkway across the dam will remain closed. A portion of the parking area on the Coon Rapids side also will be closed. However, the fishing platform, the Coon Rapids Dam Visitor Center and a trail loop located east and south of the visitor center will be open this year.

Three Rivers Park District, the dam owner, is cooperating with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, which is overseeing the project and the pool level above the dam. It is making improvements to the apron below the dam.

The 18th annual American Indian Education Day and Wacipi will be held on Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. at Osseo Junior High.

Guests are invited to browse American Indian artisan exhibits and experience Native American contemporary dance. They also can network with community members and educators about American Indian culture.

Siah St. Clair, the retiring director of Springbrook Nature Center in Fridley, will be honored at an open house and reception from 3 to 6 p.m. May 5 at the center. There will be a program at 4 p.m.

St. Clair is retiring on April 30 after 35 years as director. He started in 1978 and helped turn Springbrook into an environmental education center, an environmental research site and a family-friendly place with hundreds of programs and activities each year. In 2012, more than 750 programs were offered to 24,000 people.

Golden Valley, New Hope and Crystal will sponsor their annual Bike Rodeo from 6 to 8 p.m. May 1 at the Golden Valley City Hall complex, 7800 Golden Valley Road.

Highlights include free bike safety checks, bike skills tests, a demonstration on proper fitting of bike helmets, complimentary refreshments, music, door prizes and appearances by McGruff the Crime Dog and Sparky the Fire Dog.

The exhibit is on loan from the American Swedish Institute of Minneapolis. It will be on display through May 18.

Gallery and gift shop hours are 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays and 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursdays.

Plymouth Firefighters and the Plymouth Crime and Fire Prevention Fund will host their annual waffle breakfast fundraiser in May.

The event will take place from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. May 5 at Fire Station III, 3300 Dunkirk Lane.