Hello Anoka County! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Deer feeding ban update, kids movie night, and Blaine festival + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.
Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill: If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
Disease prevention rules expand: The Minnesota DNR expanded a deer feeding and attractant ban to five more counties to slow chronic wasting disease. Anoka is already included, with 37 counties now covered -- see the deer ban update.
Big plans for vacant land: United Properties plans a 147,000-square-foot industrial building in Coon Rapids. Planning Commission approved the site plan, and City Council will vote July 7, with construction targeted for next spring -- see what’s being proposed.
School funding battle heats up: Parents for Good says it collected 3,000 signatures to force a November vote on an Anoka-Hennepin school tax. The group plans to present the signatures to the school board -- follow the tax petition fight.
Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.*
The bill all retirees should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half -- this free comparison tool makes it easy.*
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03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Let it grow: Gardens of Rice Creek makes leveling up your landscape easy with healthy selections, helpful guidance, and zero pressure, so you bring home plants that actually like our Minnesota weather. Pop in for ideas, leave with confidence, then let the yard quietly become the corner you brag about.
Rainy-day sanity saver: When cabin fever hits or you need an easy win with kids and out-of-town cousins, The Fun Lab has arcade hits, laser tag, a ropes course, bumper cars, and VR that burn off energy fast. It’s an all-ages pick that works for birthdays, team outings, or a spontaneous Tuesday victory lap.
Low‑key park perfection: When you need an easy win close to home, Tom Ryan Park delivers with a round fountain and trellis, a picnic shelter and tables, and landscaped paths that beg for a slow lap. It also hosts summer concerts and special events, plus a thoughtful Veterans Memorial for a quiet moment.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
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Buy one window treatment this summer, get the second 50% off: “My fourth order over 8 years. Product reliability, consistency to values & warranty kept me returning!” See what keeps customers coming back to 3 Day Blinds. Book your free consultation and enjoy summer savings on blinds, shades, and drapery. *Claim your summer savings →
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Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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05 — The event calendar Fun for the famOur favorite upcoming kid and family-friendly events. All events are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🍪 Cookie Decorating @ Hope Fellowship (Ramsey) | Wednesday (6/24) at 5:00 PM – Trade your midweek spreadsheets for sprinkles at Hope Fellowship in Ramsey, where cookie decorating fuels Project Pencils. It’s free, so channel your inner room parent, bring school supplies to donate, and applaud local senior Alyssa Weeks for turning her capstone into community sugar therapy.
🎬 Kids Movie Night @ Majestic Oaks Golf Club (Andover) | Friday (6/26) at 5:00 PM – If you’ve been waiting for a sign to have an adult conversation, this is it. Park the kids with their friends for a cozy movie night while you enjoy a date at Majestic Oaks, complete sentences, and a drink you didn’t open before sunrise.
🎪 Blaine Festival @ Aquatore Park | Friday (6/26) at 5:00 PM – Been waiting for a reason to dust off the lawn chair at Aquatore Park? The Blaine Festival brings classic hometown chaos, live music you can sing along to, hands-on music education for the kids and brave adults, plus carnival rides, cold drinks, and fried food.
🚗 Freedom Fest Car Show @ Glen Cary Lutheran Church (Ham Lake) | Saturday (6/27) at 9:00 AM – If you’ve been waiting to ogle chrome, sip coffee, and let the Ham Lake Fire Department roast your corn, consider the sign delivered. Freedom Fest Car Show at Glen Cary brings The Creeksiders, food trucks, and free spectating. Ten bucks to show, bragging rights included.
🛶 Paddle with a Park Ranger @ Mississippi National River & Recreation Area (Ramsey) | Saturday (6/27) at 10:00 AM – If you think you know our Mississippi, a ranger-led, three-mile paddle in Anoka County will politely prove otherwise. Free, rich with stories of Dakota and Ho-Chunk homelands, sandbars, and settlers. Not for beginners, just those who can steer, and appreciate history with their scenery.
🎆 Ham Lake Freedom Festival @ Ham Lake Lions Park | Saturday (6/27) at 3:00 PM – Celebrate 250 years the Ham Lake way with a flag raising, local eats, an artisan makers market and business expo, and more free kid chaos than your Fitbit can count. Firetrucks, robot demos, archery, inflatables, the works. It’s free to attend, and gloriously hometown.
⚽ MNUFC2 vs. Tacoma Defiance @ National Sports Center (Blaine) | Sunday (6/28) at 7:00 PM – Head up to Blaine for MNUFC2 vs Tacoma Defiance, where the parking is free, the tailgates are friendly, and the kids can snag autographs before you nail a postgame PK. Enter at the North Gate, then watch tomorrow’s Loons before they hit the big stage.
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — From our sponsor Heads up for pet parentsTogether with our sponsor Lemonade. Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving. As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Pet Insurance. It was too late for me, but you could save thousands on your next vet bill with *Lemonade. |
07 — The Anoka County report Weather forecastToday — High: 73°F — Low: 52°F — Precip: 56%
Scattered rain showers between 11am and 1pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 73. West wind 0 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: Isolated showers and thunderstorms before 7pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 52. North northwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tomorrow — High: 73°F — Low: 54°F — Precip: 6%
Mostly sunny, with a high near 73. North northeast wind around 5 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 54. Northeast wind 0 to 5 mph. This house is wildThis updated Fridley rambler pairs Mississippi River views with plenty of polished charm. Sunlit living spaces showcase exposed beams, hardwood floors, and a stone gas fireplace, while the quartz-topped kitchen brings island seating and stainless steel style. A sunroom, finished lower level, private primary suite, and brick paver patios round out the appeal.
Take a peek inside → |
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