North metro town briefs

Church of St. Stephen hosts 5K run/walk The Church of St. Stephen in Anoka will host the Sun Run 5K run/walk, Saturday, June 30. The run will be at Anoka High School and begins at 9 a.m.

Runners receive a T-shirt and goodie bag and the opportunity to win prizes. Registration is $15. Forms are available at the church office, or go to www.ststephenchurch.org to download a form. To sign up electronically, go to www.runningroom.com.

Buy a bike helmet or get one fitted Safe Kids Anoka County is sponsoring a bike helmet clinic from 4 to 7 p.m. June 2 at Bunker Hills Park, County Road 14/Main Street and Foley Boulevard, in Coon Rapids. The clinic will be held at the Camping Registration and Visitor Center Building (entrance to the park is free).

New adults' and children's Bell bike helmets will be available to purchase for $10. Cyclists who already own helmets can bring them in for a free fitting. No appointment is necessary. For information, call Laura at the Sheriff's Office, 763-767-4664.

NEW BRIGHTON

Bring household junk to city cleanup day The city of New Brighton is holding its Cleanup Day on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Residents can dispose of household items -- mattresses, couches, appliances, tires, tech waste and more -- not usually accepted by garbage haulers. Disposal fees vary depending on the item. Hazardous household waste, such as paint and oil, and yard waste such as leaves and grass clippings will not be accepted.

The dropoff site is at the New Brighton Maintenance Garage, 700 5th St. NW. Residents should bring proof of city residency. For information, call City Hall at 651-638-2050 or go to ci.new-brighton.mn.us.

Service desks at the library, at 410 Mississippi St., are being remodeled. The improvements will facilitate more efficient service, said Anoka County Library Director Marlene Moulton Janssen. She added, "I'm looking forward to seeing the changes and I encourage local library users to visit in June to see what we've done!"

In related news, Friends of the Library has given $4,800 to the county library system. A major portion of the gift will support the summer reading program, to encourage kids to read for enjoyment and to maintain skills. The summer reading program begins June 1.

Rice creek watershed

Exhibit on planting to clean water The Blue Thumb -- Planting for Clean Water program of the Rice Creek Watershed District will be featured in the Waterosity exhibit at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chaska. The district's entry, made up of graduated heights of the native plantings and their Art Nouveau-inspired trellises, shows the impact of efforts to reduce storm water runoff, and provides ideas for landscaping that can reduce water pollution and storm water runoff.

The Waterosity exhibit runs June 6-Oct. 4 at the arboretum, 3675 Arboretum Drive, Chaska. For information, visit www.arboretum.umn.edu/waterosity.aspx or www.bluethumb.org.

For more information, call 763-717-2723 or send an e-mail to tgodfrey@ci.blaine.mn.us.

Volunteers needed for Tower Days Residents are encouraged to sign up to volunteer at the Tower Days celebration. Parade judges, event helpers and other volunteers still are needed for the celebration from June 4 to June 7. For information, or to volunteer, call 763-792-7231 or visit www.towerdays.com.

Compiled by staff writers Jim Adams, Maria Elena Baca and Paul Levy.