Town briefs: Anoka open house will look into organized trash collection

Anoka will hold an open house Monday, April 27, from 6 to 8 p.m. to discuss the possibility of switching to an organized system of trash collection. The session will take place at Green Haven Golf Course & Event Center, 2800 Greenhaven Rd., Anoka.

Anoka currently has an open system of collection, in which people can choose their own hauler. Under an organized system, one hauler serves the city or different haulers serve different pieces of it. Supporters of this kind of system say it cuts damage to streets, with fewer trucks rolling over the same area. Backers of an open system say it gives them freedom of choice.

Anoka city staff members have studied and compiled information on the subject. They and haulers will be on hand at Monday's session.

Dr. Leah Hanson, research director at HealthPartners for memory and aging, will give a presentation on Alzheimer's disease at 7:15 a.m. Thursday, April 30, at Greenhaven Golf Course in Anoka. The event is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Anoka.

Hanson will cover a number of areas: a basic understanding of Alzheimer's, what research is being done locally to identify new treatments, and factors that increase or decrease the risk for memory loss with aging. She'll also help identify "one practical thing to do or change in one's life to promote healthy brain aging."

The event is open to the public. The cost is $12 and includes a buffet breakfast. Preregistration is not required. For more information, go to www.anokarotary.com or call 763-427-3695.

Eleven teams from the Anoka-Hennepin School District competed at the recent Destination Imagination state tournament, and five qualified for the Global Finals in Knoxville, Tenn., at the end of May.

Anoka-Hennepin teams that are advancing from the April 11 state tournament in Champlin are:

• 4 Ninja Sisters, from Lincoln Elementary School for the Arts in Anoka,

• 1, 2, 3, … 7 Super Zonkeys, from Johnsville Elementary School in Blaine

• The Mustache Unicorns, from Monroe Elementary School in Brooklyn Park

• Top Secret, from Blaine High School

The other district schools that reached the state tournament were: Jamacerggers, from Franklin Elementary in Anoka; the Rosemary Chickens, from Johnsville Elementary; the Rum River Robots, from Rum River Elementary in Andover; Ships Ahoy, from Jackson Middle School; OCCKSS, from Anoka-Hennepin Schools; and One, Two, Three … Action!, from Blaine High School.

Coon Rapids' assessing department will host a meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 23, to discuss how the property-valuation process works. It will take place in the City Council Chambers at the Coon Rapids City Center, 11155 Robinson Dr. This is not a session for people to appeal individual values.

Topics include: estimated market values and how they are determined; the assessing cycle/sales comparable timeline; the assessment review area; how value is related to property taxes; recent residential housing trends.

Four performances of "Skating Under the Big Top," this year's Coon Rapids ice show, will be presented Thursday-Sunday at the Coon Rapids Ice Center, 11000 Crooked Lake Blvd.

This 26th annual ice show features skaters from Coon Rapids and other area cities, along with special guests.

Performances are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 23; 7 p.m. Friday, April 24; 6:30 p.m. Saturday, April 25; and 3 p.m. Sunday, April 26. Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for students and seniors. The show is free for children age 4 and under.

For more information, go to www.CoonRapidsIceCenter.com or call 763-951-7222.

Brooklyn Park, Brooklyn Center, Crystal and New Hope will hold a special material drop-off event from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 25, at the Brooklyn Park Operations and Maintenance Facility, 8300 Noble Av. N.

Among items that can be dropped off at no charge are: electronics (TVs, stereos, VCRs, computers, monitors, printers, DVD/MP3 players, cellphones, radios); used oil, oil filters, antifreeze; batteries (automotive, utility, household/electronics, rechargeable); paper (documents for shredding-while-you-wait, cardboard, books, catalogs, magazines, office and school paper, phone books, newspaper, boxboard); and scrap metal with all nonmetal parts removed (steel, brass, aluminum window/door frames, metal bed springs, bed frames, bicycles, lawn mowers with oil/gas removed, shelving and BBQ grill.

Accepted for various fees are carpet/carpet pad, mattresses/box springs, tires and appliances.

The 20th Annual American Indian Education Day & Wacipi will be from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 25, at Osseo Junior High, 10223 93rd Av N. A wacipi is a Native American gathering focused on dance, song and family celebration.

At the free event, participants can explore American Indian heritage and culture. Highlights will include artisan exhibits, demonstrations, college recruitment, community and curriculum resources, and contemporary Native American dancing and drumming.

There also will be a ceremony honoring local American Indian graduating seniors. Free curriculum resources will be available for educators, as well as one-on-one support for infusing new material into existing lesson plans in accordance with state standards.