North news briefs

Arts Alliance sets October events The Arts Alliance, a nonprofit located in Elk River, will sponsor a performance by acoustic guitarist Billy McLaughlin on Oct. 7, at Elk River High School.

McLaughlin will appear at 7 p.m. at Zabee Theater. Tickets are $18 for adults, $14 for Arts Alliance members and senior citizens, and $10 for students.

They're available online at www.elkriverart.org or at the Arts Alliance Gallery, 716 Main St., Elk River. Call 763-441-4725 for more information.

The following week, the first Downtown RiversEdge Art Crawl is scheduled from 4 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 14. Downtown businesses will display artists' work.

Flu shots available at county libraries The Minnesota Visiting Nurse Agency and the Metropolitan Library Service Agency (MELSA) are teaming up with Anoka County libraries to offer flu shot clinics at Rum River Library, 4201 6th Av., Anoka, and Mississippi Branch Library, 410 Mississippi St. NE., Fridley.

The first sessions will be from 3-7 p.m. Wednesday, and from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

The clinics will be repeated at the same times next week. No appointments are necessary.

Uninsured residents can pay the $26 fee in cash or with a check. For more information, visit www.mvnaflushot.org or call 651-201-5000.

Legislative candidate forum on Oct. 6 The Elk River Legislative Action Team will host a legislative candidate forum from 7 to 9 p.m. Oct. 6 at Elk River High School's Zabee Auditorium.

All candidates running for Minnesota House and Senate seats representing the Elk River school district have been invited. The forum, which is free to the public, will focus on education issues relevant to Elk River schools. There will be a question-and-answer period during the forum.

For more information about the Legislative Action Team, go online at www.elkriver.k12.mn.us/lat .

Pumpkin farm opens for the season Anoka County Farms, a family-owned pumpkin farm in Ham Lake, has opened for the season.

It's open to the public through October. For further information, go to www. anokacountyfarms.com or call 763-427-0000.

Breast Cancer event set for Oct. 9 The ninth annual Living with Breast Cancer Educational Conference will be held Oct. 9 at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

The conference will include seminars on prevention, treatment and survival of breast cancer, plus a resource center where participants will be able to visit with representatives of local health organizations. It also will have a "Sense of Style" show.

For more information and to register, go to www.bcaamn.org. Registration fees range from $25 to $45.

Community forums on levy referendum Three community forums have been scheduled to provide information on the Elk River tax levy referendum set for Nov. 2.

District Superintendent Mark Bezek will talk about district finances, demographics and statistics, and the specifics of the two levy questions that will be on the ballot.

For additional information, go online at www.elkriver.k12.mn.us .

Mayors plan forums for legislative races The North Metro Mayors Association is sponsoring a series of forums for state legislative candidates.

Each of the forums is set for 7-8:30 p.m., with the first half-hour devoted to the district's Senate candidates and the last hour devoted to House candidates.

Remaining forums include:

• District 47, Monday, Coon Rapids City Hall;

• District 51, Tuesday, Blaine City Hall.

A moderator will ask questions, and the audience will be able to submit written questions. Forums have already been held for Districts 32, 48 and 49. The District 50 and 51 forums are co-sponsored by the Twin Cities North Chamber of Commerce.

Lions host open house at Coon Creek Park Area residents are invited to the Coon Rapids Lions at the Park Open House from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.

As part of the event, the public is urged to bring used eyeglasses and hearing aids as well as nonperishable foods and clean winter coats for distribution at ACBC Food Shelf.

Historical society leads cemetery tours The Anoka County Historical Society will lead "Monuments to Life" cemetery tours at three sites in October.

Participants will hear the stories of "those who reside in our silent cities" during the tours. The program starts Tuesday at Oakwood Cemetery, 479 West Main St., Anoka. The second tour is Oct. 7, at Incarnation Cemetery, at County Road 32 and Turtle Lake Road in Lino Lakes. Finally, on Oct. 9 there will be a tour of Cedar Cemetery, at the intersection of County Roads 22 and 67.

Each tour starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $8. For more details or tickets, call 763-421-0600.

Sock Hop Friday at Anoka armory The Anoka County Historical Society is hosting a sock hop at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Anoka armory, 408 E Main St.

The event will feature music by a live dance band, the TC Cats. Refreshments will be served.