Although the threat of snow kept some away, wood carvers from the metro and beyond exhibited their creations at the Minnesota Wood Carvers Association’s 53rd annual woodcarving show at Northtown Mall March 9.
Parishioners of The Church of the Epiphany and students from the adjacent school, Epiphany Catholic Church, in Coon Rapids observed Ash Wednesday March 6 with a mass.
Epiphany Catholic School in Coon Rapids hosted a STEM carnival Feb. 22 to teach about science, technology, engineering and math.
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Prior to Valentine’s Day, families enjoyed a night of fun Feb. 8 at the Sweetheart Dance at Spring Lake Park High School.
"Magic Bob" performed a magic show at Sand Creek Elementary School Feb. 2. The show was part of the Snowflake Days Children’s Carnival. (Photo by Jonathan Young)
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Students at the Anoka-Hennepin Technical High School celebrated their hard work during a commencement ceremony Jan. 31.
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Anoka-Hennepin and Spring Lake Park schools were closed Jan. 28 due to heavy snow and remained closed through Jan. 31 due to extreme cold. ABC Newspapers' Facebook followers submitted these photos.
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The Anoka Police Department’s K-9, Bravo, will be safer in high-risk situations, thanks to Tyler Carach, nationally known as “The Donut Boy.”
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The Coon Rapids Arts Commission has announced the winners of the 2018 Holiday Lighting Contest.
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The ninth annual Heroes and Helpers event brightened the holidays for 55 children by giving them a chance to purchase gifts for their families.
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Blaine High School celebrated veterans Nov. 9 during an assembly in the high school field house.
St. Francis High School honored veterans during a Veterans Day assembly Nov. 12.
Andover High School held an Veterans Day assembly the morning of Nov. 12 in its main gym.
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Area children and city royalty from around the region competed in a children’s pumpkin carving contest Saturday, Oct. 20, in Akin Riverside Park in Anoka. The event was part of the Anoka Halloween festivities, which take place throughout the month of October. The Grande Day Parade is 1-3 p.m…
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Fire Prevention Week activities by the Coon Rapids Fire Department Oct. 7-13 featured presentations at elementary schools in Coon Rapids during the week and open houses at the city’s three fire stations Saturday.
On a brisk Saturday, with a steady breeze and skies populated with a smattering of clouds, families gathered in Blaine for The Great Pumpkin Giveaway.
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Festivities kicked off last weekend in the Halloween Capital of the World. The second annual giant pumpkin weigh-off outside Anoka City Hall Oct. 7 featured pumpkins over 1,000 pounds, as well as a variety of activities, such as a scarecrow contest, an adult pumpkin decorating contest and li…
Residents could meet staff, explore departments and play on city vehicles during the Blaine Block Party at City Hall Sept. 26.
The city of Nowthen celebrated its 10th birthday Sept. 22 at the 11th annual Nowthen Heritage Festival.
Over 400 players joined a Nerf-style battle Sept. 22 at the National Sports Center in Blaine.
Danah Ocsan and Luke Bonte were named St. Francis High School 2018 homecoming king and queen Sept. 21.
Coon Rapids High School had its 2018 homecoming coronation Sept. 25. The king and queen were Andrew Truong and Destini Artis.
Anoka High School had its homecoming coronation Sept. 21. Julia Smith and Colby Sandstrom were the queen and king.
Seniors learned about safety and had fun doing so at the Coon Rapids Civic Center Sept. 12.
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Large crowds gathered at the Coon Rapids VFW Sept. 15 for a nine-hour event to recognize and honor law enforcement officers.
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The Anoka County Sheriff’s Office had an open house Sept. 13, inviting the public to view a variety of equipment and departments that make up emergency response services.
Ramsey had its 20th annual Happy Days Celebration Sept. 6-9.
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The Andover Fire Department received a symbolic surprise during its 9/11 memorial Tuesday, and a video of the event went viral online.
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Hundreds of motorcycles paraded through Anoka Aug. 23 as part of the national Legacy Run put on by the American Legion Riders, who “ride for the kids.”
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The Anoka Police Department hosted its second annual Cookout with the Cops event Aug. 21 in Sunny Acres Park. The clouds parted, and the sun came out in the evening. An estimated 350 people stopped by the event, intended to foster connections among neighbors and between the community and pol…
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Approximately 110 children between ages 5 and 15 participated in the annual CAST (Community And Sheriff Together) Fishing event at Lake George Regional Park in Oak Grove Aug. 3.
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Neighbors and law enforcement got out of the house and met each other at block parties during Night to Unite Aug. 7.
Despite the periodic drizzle, crowds showed up for the inaugural Minnesota Soda Festival at the Blue Sun Soda Shop in Spring Lake Park Aug. 4. Booths were set up to serve samples of a variety of craft sodas for 25 cents a pour. Entertainment also included inflatable mini golf, a magician, fo…
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The Anoka County Fair closed up shop July 29 after a six-day run that brought thousands to the fairgrounds in Anoka.
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More than 20 booths sprung up in Blaine’s Aquatore Park for the MetroNorth Chamber of Commerce’s annual Summer Food Fest event July 24.
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East Bethel residents came together in Booster Park for Booster Days, the city’s summer festival, July 20-21. It featured a movie showing, a 5k run, a Kiddie Parade, a Grand Parade, live music and more.
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In its 23rd year, Coon Rapids Safety Camp brought together approximately 90 fourth- and fifth-graders to equip them with the knowledge they need to keep themselves and others safe.
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Jackson Street has never smelled as good as it did July 21 when 46 food trucks parked in the vicinity for the second annual Anoka Food Truck Festival.
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The Anoka County Fair kicked off Tuesday, July 24, and runs through Sunday, July 29, at the Anoka County Fairgrounds in Anoka. For more information about the fair, visit anokacountyfair.com.
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Crowds once again flooded the streets of downtown Anoka for the Anoka Riverfest & Craft Fair July 14.
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Andover residents and visitors didn’t let the heat spoil their fun at the city’s major festival July 13-14.
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“I want to be an artist when I grow up,” a young girl sighed after showing Rumriver Art Center Director Larry Weinberg her watercolor painting during the second annual Elmcrest Art Fair July 15.
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During the Pleistocene epoch, often called the last ice age, beavers 6-7 feet long roamed the earth – including Anoka County.
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Safety and community building were the dual focus of the 22nd annual Blaine Safety Camp, hosted at Fire House #3 July 9-10.
Between the rain drops, Anoka residents and visitors to the city enjoyed a free band concert, food truck fare and root beer floats this Fourth of July.
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Sometimes, halos look like hair nets, according to William McNally, a former employee at Commers Water in Blaine and founder and executive director of Harvest Pack, a nonprofit organization dedicated to feeding the hungry locally.
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The 13th annual Patriot Ride was held in sweltering heat June 30, but that didn’t deter thousands of people from riding for the troops and police officers.
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A Monday evening parade kicked off Coon Rapids’ annual Fourth of July celebration, which runs three days, July 2-4, at Boulevard Plaza adjacent to the Coon Rapids Ice Center.
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Carnival rides, pig races and more drew crowds to the Blaine Festival June 22-24. The annual event took place in Aquatore Park in Blaine. On June 23, the sun shown on the nearby parade route. Live bands performed each evening.
Anoka Technical College and Anoka-Hennepin’s Secondary Technical Education Program joined forces to host Nitro X, a transportation camp for middle school students, June 11-15.
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It was clear the children at the Washington/Anoka County Head Start center in Coon Rapids had gathered June 14 to honor the American Flag. Red, white and blue appeared everywhere – on hats, on doorways and on the minds of parents and children gathered around the flagpole.
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The St. Francis Chamber of Commerce hosted Pioneer Days in St. Francis June 8-10 in the city’s Community Park. The event included carnival rides, concessions, a petting zoo, a parade, fireworks and more.
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Spring Lake Park’s annual Tower Days Festival kicked off with a parade June 7 and ended with a celebration in Lakeside Lions Park June 10. Attractions included lumberjack shows, water wars, carnival games and more.
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Spring Lake Park High School honored 381 graduates during its commencement exercises June 8.
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After nearly 200 years, bison have returned to East Bethel’s oak savannas.
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There were several uncomfortable pauses during the Blaine High School graduation ceremony June 5.
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The sun shone upon Anoka High School’s 146th commencement exercises at historic Goodrich Field June 4, as 552 new graduates were honored.
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Andover High School initiated 448 students as alumni during its 15th annual graduation ceremony June 3.
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After a one-year hiatus due to a scheduling conflict with an air show in Duluth, Discover Aviation Days returned to the Anoka County-Blaine Airport June 2-3.
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Red and white streamers rained down on Coon Rapids High School’s newest graduates June 3 at the 3M Arena at Mariucci on the University of Minnesota,Twin Cities, campus.
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St. Francis High School celebrated the accomplishments of 322 graduating seniors June 1 with its 104th commencement ceremony.
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When life gets tough, everyone is faced with two choices, according to Anoka-Hennepin Regional High School graduate and student speaker Brianna Atkinson: quit or persevere.
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It was the hottest Memorial Day in Minnesota since the 1930s, but that didn’t keep crowds away from Forest Hills Cemetery in Anoka where those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country were remembered.
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For decades the Anoka County Veterans Council has hosted two Memorial Day weekend services with the message, “Remember those served; all gave some, some gave all.”
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After a thunderstorm rolled through Anoka County the afternoon of May 25, the sky cleared and the sun came out just in time for PACT Charter School’s graduation ceremony.
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The annual Anoka County Law Enforcement Memorial paid homage to fallen officers at noon May 16 at the Anoka County Government Center in Anoka.
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The Coon Rapids Public Works Department hosted an open house Saturday, May 12, attracting hundreds to the city’s facility at 1831 111th Ave. NW.
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A red oak tree was planted at Lincoln Elementary School for the Arts May 11 in recognition of Arbor Day. Anoka is in its 38th year as a member of the Tree City USA program. Trees have been planted at local schools and city parks over those years. The students learned some of the history of t…
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St. Francis High School hosted its second mock car crash, sponsored by the St. Francis Community for Drug Awareness group, May 10 in the parking lot west of the school.
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Never before have Walker Methodist Plaza residents been offered cigarettes by staff, but the Roaring Twenties-themed senior prom called for candy cigarettes and moonshine.
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Anoka Middle School for the Arts hosted its annual Arts Festival on both the Fred Moore and Washington campuses May 3.
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The Rumriver Art Center is now more than halfway through the first round of its Vitality Arts classes, offered to adults 55 and older.
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Nine years ago, Gina Calistro’s father was killed by a drunken driver who was driving on the wrong side of Lexington Avenue in Blaine.
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There are two more opportunities in the next couple of weeks to purchase bike helmets and have police officers help properly fit them.
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Sen. Michelle Benson, R-Ham Lake, stopped by East Bethel Community School April 27 to see how new physical education standards are being implemented in the gym.
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Approximately 735 people participated in Anoka-Hennepin Educational Foundation’s annual Bill Gallagher Memorial 5K Fun Run/Walk for Literacy at Anoka High School April 28, just shy of the record set in 2016.
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Each spring, trees get planted across the United States in honor of Arbor Day.
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Anoka County Destination Imagination teams once again had a tremendous competition year, with 11 teams qualifying to advance from state competition to the Global Finals in Tennessee next month.
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Morris Bye Elementary students learned many important lessons when Courtney Godfrey, a Fox 9 television reporter, paid them a visit on April 20.
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A large team of firefighters was able to save an Andover home from total destruction after an attached garage was engulfed in flames the morning of April 25.
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Friends and family of Epiphany Catholic School students attended an academic showcase after school April 10 to see what the students have learned this school year.
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Today, on the 19th anniversary of the Columbine High School mass shooting, area students joined thousands of others across the United States by participating in the National School Walkout.
St. Francis High School embarked on a new adventure this school year with the creation of a FIRST Robotics team, the Mechanical Masterminds.
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Mississippi Elementary School hosted its third annual dance Friday, April 6, attracting the majority of its 425 kindergarten through fifth-grade students to the Coon Rapids school.
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With the help of the Coon Creek Watershed District, Northwest Passage High School student Grace Lukkason created a project to test pollution levels at various locations along the Coon Creek Watershed.
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It is not every day that firefighters can train on how to extinguish a fire and do search and rescue in a real home, when the scenarios are just for practice and not actual emergencies.
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Each year, Anoka-Hennepin art students are recognized at the regional level for their artwork, winning gold and silver key awards.
While on a training exercise at an abandoned home in northern Blaine, firefighters with the Spring Lake Park-Blaine-Mounds View Fire Department were called to a real-life house fire scenario in southern Blaine.
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Societal norms were much different when Madison Elementary opened its doors for the first time in the fall of 1967 in the middle of a Blaine neighborhood.
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The Anoka Women of Today hosted an Easter egg hunt March 24 at the Anoka Senior Center. After the hunt, families participated in crafts and games and had a chance to meet the Easter Bunny.
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Approximately 250 children traipsed through the snow to gather 6,000 Easter eggs scattered in Spring Lake Park’s Lakeside Lions Park March 24.
One of the first signs of spring in the area is the North Artists Studio Crawl, and this will mark the 21st consecutive year that artists from the north suburban area collaborate to open their studios to the public for a free, self-guided tour.
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The NACE (Northern Anoka County Emergency) food shelf’s 14th annual Empty Bowls fundraiser was record breaking, pulling in more than $22,000 to feed the hungry.
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