North news briefs: Event Saturday will mark Memorial Day

The Anoka County Veterans Council will mark Memorial Day weekend with a service on Saturday at Bunker Hills Park in Coon Rapids (at Foley Boulevard and Main Street). The public is invited to the service, which will begin at 11 a.m. and be followed by a family picnic at the park.

The council is made up of veterans organizations from throughout the county.

May is American Wetlands Month, and to help mark it, Blaine will hold a May 30 "Kick-Off Event" for the wetland sanctuary that is taking shape in the city. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. that day at the Lake Side Commons pavilion.

Blaine set aside 500 acres for the preserve, and the Kick-Off will give people a chance to see concept plans and a timeline, as well as to take a guided tour of a paved trail extending from East Lake Park that will offer a glimpse of the wetlands.

For further information, go to www.ci.blaine.mn.us/go/blainewetlandsanctuary, or contact Jim Hafner, stormwater manager, at 763-785-6188 or jhafner@ci.blaine.mn.us.

The Brooklyn Park Fire Department will hold open houses at its four stations on May 30 from noon to 3 p.m. Visitors will have a chance to tour the stations, climb on the trucks, and try on gear. In addition, firefighters will answer questions. The open houses are free and also will feature ice cream, games, tattoos and other giveaways.

Here are the locations:

• Central Fire Station, 5700 85th Av. N.

• West Fire Station, 7301 W. Broadway Av. N.

• North Fire Station, 9700 Regent Av. N.

Local author and historian John D. Cox will give a presentation early next month about the critical World War II D-Day invasion of June 6, 1944.

The presentation will take place at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 2, in the Activity Room of the Columbia Heights Public Library, 1400 49th Av. NE.

"Paddington," the movie about the famed storybook bear, will be shown at 8:30 p.m. Friday at the Coon Rapids Soccer Complex, 1705 111th Av. NW. The city encourages folks to bring a blanket or chair.

Before the free screening there will be family activities and concession sales starting at 6:30 p.m. A small fee will be charged for balloon art and face painting, and $7 wrist bands will be available for unlimited rides on inflated bouncers.

The soccer complex is a new location for the city's Movie in the Park program. The events previously were held at Sand Creek Park, which is closed as it undergoes an overhaul.

The Main Street railroad crossing in Elk River is scheduled to be closed on Thursday for rail replacement. The intersection will be closed all day.

The city of Ramsey broke ground May 7 for a new fire station, a 12,000-square-foot structure at the intersection of Alpine Drive and Helium Street. The $3.9 million project will replace the current Fire Station No. 2 and is expected to be completed by mid-March of next year. The building also will include space for a satellite police office.

Several northwest metro cities are offering a summer tennis league for boys and girls ages 12 to 18. Players must have previous tennis experience and be able to sustain a rally, return serves and keep score, organizers say.

The cities involved are New Hope, Crystal, Robbinsdale, Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Golden Valley and Plymouth, although nonresidents also can play.

The season will run from June 15 to July 29. Practices will be held from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on Tuesdays at Cooper High School in New Hope, and matches will be played from 1 to 3:30 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays throughout the league area. Participants are responsible for their own transportation.

The cost is $56 for residents of the participating cities and $63 for nonresidents. To register or get more information, call the New Hope Parks and Recreation Department at 763-531-5151.

Zimmerman will hold its 45th annual Wild West Days celebration Thursday through Monday, Memorial Day. The festival includes a parade (starting at noon Saturday), a carnival each day at Lions Park, a bike and car show (Sunday), fireworks (Sunday night), a soap box derby (Sunday), plus food, music and many other events.

For further information, go to www.zimmermancivicclub.net/Wild-West-Days or call 763-234-5414.

staff reports