North news briefs: 'Dolly and Me Teas' at History Center

'Dolly and Me Teas' at History CenterThe Anoka County Historical Society will hold its annual "Dolly and Me Teas" this Saturday and on May 19 at the History Center and Library, 2135 3rd Av. N. in Anoka. They'll take place at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. each Saturday.

The cost is $10 for adults and $7 for girls and members of the Historical Society. For further information or to make a reservation, call 763-421-0600.

Applications sought for school board seatResidents of Anoka-Hennepin's Sixth District in eastern Coon Rapids and southwest Andover now can submit an application for the school board seat vacated by Kathy Tingelstad in March.

The board will accept applications and résumés until 4 p.m. on June 6. The board will conduct interviews and make an appointment on July 9.

The term of the new member will run until Jan. 6, 2014. Applicants need to have been a resident of the district at least 30 days before appointment, and must be 21 or older and an eligible voter.

Maps and applications are available at www.anoka.k12 .mn.us/schoolboard or by calling 763-506-1002.

'Heights Idol' contest returns next weekThe first round of the city's "Heights Idol" competition will take place at 7 p.m. next Thursday, May 17, at Murzyn Hall, 530 Mill St. in Columbia Heights.

Youth, adult and senior participants will sing for judges and the audience. Registration is already closed, but the event is free and open to the public.

Round 2 will take place June 23 on an outdoor stage during the Columbia Heights Jamboree City Celebration.

For further information, call 763-706-3733.

Three win National Merit ScholarshipsThree students from Spring Lake Park and Blaine high schools are among the 2012 recipients of National Merit Scholarships valued at $2,500. They are:

• Katherine M. Bodor, Spring Lake Park High School. Probable career field: Engineering.

• John T. Ponto, Spring Lake Park High School. Probable career field: Finance.

• Jeremy J. Siller, Blaine High School. Probable career field: Biomedical Engineering.

Health program has neighborhood focusMercy and Unity hospitals are planning a health program that will seek to get neighbors to work together to improve residents' health.

The "Neighborhood Health Connection" program will provide tools and resources. Neighborhood group leaders will have access to support and materials to start various healthy activities, including free health screenings, and social networking tools to share success stories and provide personal support, says Allina Health, which is sponsoring the program.

The Neighborhood Health Connection will be launched at the following informational events:

• From 6:30-7:30 p.m. May 23 in the Mercy Hospital Heart Center, lower level conference room, 4050 Coon Rapids Blvd. NW., Coon Rapids.

• From 4-5 p.m. May 24 in the Unity Hospital Education Center, 620 Osborne Road, Fridley.

Those attending will be able to learn more about the program and how to apply for their own neighborhood health connections.

For more information, go to www.neighborhoodhealthconnection.org.

Friday is last day to seek ADA grantsArts organizations in the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area have until Friday to submit applications for the next round of ADA Access Improvement Grants.

VSA Minnesota, the state organization on arts and disability, will award grants up to $15,000 to nonprofit arts groups that want to upgrade facilities or programs to improve access to the arts for artists, audience or staff with disabilities.

The money can be used for things that will provide a long-term benefit, such as installing a ramp or lift, adding a Braille guide or docent, or providing assistive listening devices.

Applications are available at www.vsamn.org. Click on the Grants tab.

Residential building permits keep risingNew residential construction in the metro area continued its upward trend in April, improving by 45 percent in permits and 68 percent in planned units over April 2011.

Total units under permit so far this year are up 124 percent over the same period in 2011, and higher than at any time since 2007.

Minneapolis led the metro area in building activity with 56 units permitted during April, followed by Blaine with 34 units, Maple Grove with 21 units, and Chanhassen and Lakeville with 18 units each.

For the year through April, Minneapolis also led the metro with 637 units permitted, followed by St. Louis Park with 196 units, Blaine with 97 units, and Maple Grove and Woodbury with 59 units each.

STAFF REPORTS