Area festivities finish well with Mounds Views festival - "Sun Focus Today" - Tuesday, Aug. 23

The city of Mounds View had great weather for its annual Festival in the Park held on Saturday this past weekend.

Vendors sold many different foods to eat, though there was also an opportunity for the young and the young-at-heart to play with their food in an Oreo stacking contest.

Other attractions included bingo, face painting, and perhaps a more unique feature of minnow racing. Many bands played in the park from early afternoon through late evening, including the Teddy Bear Band, whose seasoned fans know that it's acceptable and even expected that they'll bring along their favorite stuffed animals for the fun.

Mounds View's festival represented the final summer city celebration among all of the Sun Focus cities, but summer fun still goes on as the Minnesota State Fair starts Thursday in nearby Falcon Heights.

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Surfing the Internet at the library in Fridley is about to get better.

The Mississippi Branch Library plans to purchase 10 new computers by the end of next year. A grant for more than $16,000 from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will support the library's technology upgrade.

The library will still have to come up with a nearly $10,000 match to supplement the two-year grant. Funds have already been set aside for the first year's contribution. The grant also requires the library director to attend a workshop on non-traditional fundraising, which may help the library to raise its second year's contribution.

The library expects to order five computers before the end of this year and five more in 2010.

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Last night the Columbia Heights City Council unanimously adopted two ordinances that will improve the welfare and safety of residents.

One ordinance implements a repeat nuisance call service fee that will target properties that generate continuous calls for service, such as narcotics use, prostitution or loud parties. The fee won't pertain to incidents relating to domestic assault, theft or medical emergencies.

The owner and/or occupant of a private property will be required to pay a $250 fee for the third and any subsequent nuisance call for service within 12 months.

Violators could challenge any part of the process by requesting a hearing in front of the City Council.

The second ordinance defines and prohibits replica firearms. The previous city ordinance didn't adequately address the issue.

More: www.mnSun.com/ch

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