North metro town briefs

Expert check for car-seat installation Parents can have a trained technician check whether their car seats are installed properly at a clinic from 4 to 7 p.m. Feb. 10 at Andover Fire Station No. 1.

Safe Kids Anoka County is hosting the clinic, and anyone who lives in the county can attend. Please schedule an appointment by calling Laura Landes at 763-767-4664. The fire station is at 13875 Crosstown Blvd. NW.

Groomed skil trails await at county parks Cross-country ski enthusiasts can take advantage of 60 kilometers of groomed trails at four Anoka County Parks sites: Bunker Hills Regional Park in Andover, Chominix Golf Course in Lino Lakes, Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park and Rum River Central Regional Park in Ramsey.

To check trail conditions, call 763-767-2827 or go to www.anokacountyparks.com.

Read-a-thon pays off in free mug or coffee Need a new coffee mug or a free cup of Dunn Brothers while you curl up with a book on these frigid winter days?

You can get both by reading at least three books by the end of February in the Winter Jackets program sponsored by Anoka County libraries.

The eight libraries provide a list of suggested books, a free Winter Jackets mug (while supplies last) and even kick in a bookmark. For information about Winter Jackets or other programs, visit your local Anoka County Library or visit the website, www.anoka.lib.mn.us.

The agency is a not-for-profit corporation that works to promote and support small businesses' growth in the city. The City Council appoints volunteer board members, who serve two-year terms. The board meets at City Hall about three or four times a year at 7:30 a.m. Meetings last about one hour.

The board needs one resident and one banker who does business in the city, said Amy Baldwin, city business developer.

A short application is available at www.brooklynpark.org/bpdc or by calling Baldwin at 763-493-8058. Applications must be submitted by Saturday to Baldwin at Brooklyn Park City Hall, 5200 85th Av. N., Brooklyn Park, MN 55443. Her e-mail address is amy.baldwin@brooklyn park.org.

Playground designs on display at open house Kids -- and their parents -- are invited to an open house at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3, to look at four designs under consideration for new playground equipment expected to be installed this fall at Golden Lake Park.

Members of the Circle Pines Park Board will be at the event to hear feedback from community members. The open house will be held in council chambers at City Hall at 200 Civic Heights Circle.

Snowbowl features sled-dog races Find the medallion and win $500. Or watch sled-dog races or skiers pulled by dogs.

The third Annual Ham Lake Snowbowl at Ham Lake Park -- featuring helicopter rides, a vintage snowmobile display and sled-dog rides -- will be held Feb. 7, with the first events beginning at 9 a.m.

For more information, call 763-434-3322.

Snowflake Days festivities starting Coon Rapids Snowflake Days will get rolling with the SnoBall on Saturday from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Seasons at Bunker Hills at Foley and Main Street. The Tony Garry Band will provide entertainment; hors d'oeuvres, punch and coffee will be served (cash bar). Tickets, $15 a person or $25 a couple, can be purchased from Scott Schulte at Hi-Ten Service, at the corner of Hanson and Coon Rapids Boulevards, or Diane Buszta at 612-366-1834 or Jerry Koch at 612-599-8266.

Also this weekend will be the Snowflake Days all-you-can eat waffle breakfast from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Coon Rapids VFW, 1919 Coon Rapids Blvd. Tickets are $5 person; free for kids 5 and younger. The event is sponsored by the Coon Rapids North Star Lions Club.

Go Latin at dessert, coffee concert series Enjoy the music of Latin American harpist Nicolas Carter at 7 p.m. Feb. 12 at the Coon Rapids Civic Center, 11155 Robinson Drive, at the next event in the Dessert and Coffee Concert Series.

The other two upcoming concerts in the series are:

• March 12: Justin Roth on acoustic guitar

• April 9: Anoka-Ramsey Community College Jazz Band

Tickets, which include dessert and beverage, are $7 for adults. Adults 65 and older and kids 12 and younger get in for $5.

Christian author of "The Shack" to speak The author of "The Shack," William Paul Young, will speak at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 7 at the Church of the Open Door at 9060 Zanzibar Lane N. in Maple Grove.

Young's self-published Christian book has become a phenomenon in the 18 months since its publication. There are 3 million copies in print, it has been No. 1 on the New York Times best-seller list of paperback trade fiction for 34 weeks, and it will soon be published in 30 languages.

The event is part of a series called "Nudge the World" organized by Terry Esau. Admission is $10 at the door. For more information, contact Esau at www.terryesau.com or call 952-457-4858.

Residents can hear how their city compares "How does New Brighton measure up?" will be one of the topics of the city's Neighborhood Meetings this year.

Residents will hear from the city about how New Brighton compares with similar cities. There will also be time for conversation about your neighborhood.

• This Thursday: Totem Pole Neighborhood Center, 1111 Foss Road.

• Feb. 5: Sunny Square Neighborhood Center, 2200 Sunnyside Terrace.

• Feb. 12: Freedom Park Neighborhood Center, 2121 14th Street NW.

• Feb. 19: Hansen Neighborhood Center, 1555 5th St. NW.

Watershed District needs advisory help The Rice Creek Watershed District is looking for new members for its Citizen Advisory Committee, which offers help and advice on issues and makes recommendations on proposed projects and improvements in the district.

Applications are due Friday. For more information or to request an application, call the district at 763-398-3070 or www.ricecreek.org.