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Managing editor

Grand opening of the Riverdale Northstar Commuter Rail station in Coon Rapids will take place tomorrow (Saturday, Nov. 14).

The event, which will have a theme tying it to this year’s 50th anniversary of the city of Coon Rapids, is the prelude to the launch of the state’s first commuter rail service Monday, Nov. 16 when trains start running between Big Lake and Minneapolis through Anoka County.

The Riverdale Coon Rapids station grand opening will run from 1 to 3:30 p.m.

The  station, one of six on the Northstar route, is located on Northdale Boulevard, south of Main Street, where the Riverdale Park and Ride lot has been operating for many years.

Grand opening activities at the Riverdale station include 1940s big band sounds from 1st Things 1st, entertainment by National Yo-Yo Master Dazzlin’ Dave (a Coon Rapids native) and appearances by St. Paul Saints players, Mudonna (the pig) and other Saints personalities.

Bob Powell, retired Mississippi Elementary School, Coon Rapids, teacher and a member of the Coon Rapids Historical Commission, will have his model railroad display set up at the station.

In addition, there will be refreshments, concessions and other events and informational displays throughout the afternoon.

An official program starts at 2 p.m. with Coon Rapids Mayor Tim Howe as emcee and Anoka County Commissioner Dan Erhart, who is chairman of the Northstar Corridor Development Authority (NCDA), as one of the speakers.

Also on hand will be a representative from the office of Third District Congressman Erik Paulsen, whose district includes all but one precinct of the city of Coon Rapids.

A train taking ticket holders to Target Field in Minneapolis will leave the Riverdale Station at 3:35 p.m. The train returns to Coon Rapids at 5:15 p.m.

The train tickets were distributed by a lottery to people who had signed up to ride the train tomorrow.

For those who don’t have a ticket and would like to travel on the train, a limited number of tickets will be available at the event on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 1 p.m.

Peter Bodley is at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it