North news briefs: Anoka home and garden tour scheduled for July 14

The 10th annual Anoka Heritage Home and Garden Tour will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 14, featuring 11 historic sites and gardens.

The event includes open-house tours of homes and gardens in the Whiskey Flats and surrounding neighborhoods. The homes range in age from 1858 to 1977 and in style from a 1960s rambler to a Federal and Greek Revival. Eight of the sites are private residences and four are on the National Register of Historic Places.

The event is presented by the Anoka County Historical Society and the Anoka Heritage Preservation Commission.

Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 on the day of the tour. Advance tickets can be bought at the Anoka County History Center, 2135 3rd Av., or by calling 763-421-0600. Or go online at www.anokacountyhistory.org.

On the day of the tour, tickets can be bought at the Artique at 1900 3rd Av.

The 43rd annual Blaine Festival — featuring a carnival, events for kids, music, a parade on Saturday and many more activities — begins at 5 p.m. Friday, June 28, at Aquatore Park and continues on Saturday and Sunday. The park is located at 9191 Lincoln St.

For further information on the festival, go to www.blainefestival.org.

Proceeds will go to the Alexandra House, which is working to end domestic violence.

The event, part of the Blaine Festival, will begin at 8:30 a.m. You can preregister online at www.lakes8k.zapevent.com or in person through Thursday at the city of Blaine Park and Recreation Department. You can also register on the day of the run/walk. The fee is $20 to preregister (through Thursday) and $25 on Sunday.

Further information is available at the city's website — www.ci.blaine.mn.us.

The event is co-sponsored by the Park and Recreation Department and the Blaine Festival Committee.

Coon Rapids is offering two new economic development programs to stimulate business growth in the community.

"Open to Business" provides entrepreneurs with free one-on-one counseling with a business adviser. The program provides assistance in financial management, loan packaging, business planning, real estate analysis, marketing, navigating regulations and professional referrals.

For more information, contact Rob Smolund at the Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers at 612-789-7337, ext. 11 or e-mail info@opentobusinessmn.org.

Meanwhile, a new partnership between Coon Rapids and the Central Minnesota Development Company (CMDC) offers financing options for projects that help achieve city development goals. The Coon Rapids Business Loan Fund is designed to leverage other private financing for projects in the city's industrial areas and along established commercial corridors and redevelopment areas.

For information on the Coon Rapids Business Loan Fund, contact Mike Mulrooney at CMDC at 763-784-3337. For general information, visit www.cmdcbusinessloans.com.

The city's annual 49er Days celebration begins at 5 p.m. Thursday, June 27, at the Medtronic Rice Creek Campus, at 7000 Old Central Av. 49ers Days continue with events on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Other events scheduled over the weekend are street dances, a pizza eating contest, a pie-baking contest, a hot rod show, a Fridley Idol contest and more.

The festival carnival will take place from 5-10 p.m. Thursday; 5-11 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

For further information, go to www.ci.fridley.mn.us

A prostate cancer support group will meet at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 26, at North Memorial Outpatient Center, 3435 W. Broadway, Robbinsdale.

Medical technologist Charles Weinzierl will report on a new development in detecting and categorizing prostate cancer. The Prostate Health Index analyzes genetic and molecular structures of the prostate to determine the extent and aggressiveness of the cancer.