ANOKA COUNTY PARKS

Moonlight skiing at Chomonix course The Anoka County Parks system is offering people a chance to ski the cross-country trails under a full moon and have dinner around the fireplace at Chomonix Golf Course in Lino Lakes. Preregistration is required for the Jan. 30 event. The cost is $12 for adults and $8 for children. Call 651-429-8007. The golf course is located in the Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park Reserve.

Cross-country ski lessons offered Cross-country ski lessons will be offered at several sites in Anoka County: on Saturday, from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. at Chomonix Ski Area, Lino Lakes; Jan. 16, from 10 a.m. to noon at Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park, Coon Rapids; and Jan. 16, 2 to 4 p.m., at Bunker Hills Campground Visitor Center, Coon Rapids. The fee is $15 for adults and $10 for kids 8 to 12 years old.

'Snow Day' is coming The Anoka County Parks and Recreation Department will present its 10th annual Snow Day event, featuring a variety of activities, animal displays and crafts, on Jan. 30, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Wargo Nature Center, Lino Lakes.

ANOKA COUNTY

Nominations sought for health award Nominations are being sought for the annual Anoka County Public Health Recognition Award, which recognizes citizens in the county who devote time to improving public health in their communities.

There are two categories: Youth-focused -- an individual 18 years or younger at the time of nomination or an organization led by youth; Adult focused -- individual 18 or older or a group. The selection panel is looking for applicants who demonstrate leadership and creativity in solving public health problems

Nominations are due by Jan. 25. See www.anokacounty.us, or call Pat Robinson at 763-422-7187.

ANOKA-HENNEPIN

Community Wellness Day set for Jan. 23 Anoka-Hennepin Community Education will host a Community Wellness Day on Jan. 23, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Coon Rapids Middle School. Minnesota author Janice Novak is the keynote speaker. The event is free. For information, go to www.anoka.k12.mn.us/communitywellnessday.

BLAINE

Car-seat clinic available for parents The Blaine Police Department, the Spring Lake Park-Blaine-Mounds View Fire Department and Save Kids Anoka County will host a free car-seat clinic from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at SBM Fire Station No. 3, 11920 Ulysses St., Blaine. The clinic is offered by appointment only. To get your name on the schedule, call Connie Forster, fire and life safety education chief, at 763-767-4003, ext. 100.

BROOKLYN CENTER

'Blue Jean Ball' is coming up The annual "Blue Jean Ball" fundraiser to support north metro youth activities will be held Jan. 22 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Brooklyn Center.

The event, supporting the Brooklyns Youth Council, will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. and will feature a silent auction, caricature artists, a "Build-A-Van" donor tree and other activities hosted by youth. A "Diamonds and Denim" teen dance with DJ Bob and Party Unit is scheduled until 10:30 p.m.

The Brooklyns Youth Council is a 21-member group of high school students who live in Brooklyn Center or Brooklyn Park and attend high schools in the two cities, Osseo or Totino-Grace High School in Fridley. For more information call 763-488-6388.

CENTENNIAL SCHOOLS

Kindergarten info night set for Jan. 19 The Centennial School District will hold its kindergarten information night from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19, at the Performing Arts Center, 4707 North Road, Circle Pines.

The program is for parents only. It will deal with the three district kindergarten options open to parents and their students. Those are half-day kindergarten, all-day kindergarten, and half-day kindergarten augmented by a Kids Club program. Kindergarten registration packets will be available.

There will also be information relating to readiness skills, costs, timelines and kindergarten registration dates.

NEW BRIGHTON

Kids Night Out, Parents Night Off New Brighton Parks and Recreation is offering another session of Kids Night Out-Parents Night Off on Saturday at the Eagles Nest Indoor Playground; the playground is at the Family Service Center, 400 10th St. NW, New Brighton. The event is for kids ages 3 to 8 (must be toilet-trained) and will run from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The night's activities include crafts, games, snacks, Eagles Nest playing time and a child-appropriate movie. Children should bring a pillow and blanket for the movie. Prices are $20 per child, $55 for a family of 3 siblings or more. Call 651-638-2130 to register.

Free Health and fitness expo set The New Brighton Family Service Center will hold its Fifth Annual Health and Fitness Expo on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The center is at 400 10th St. NW. Among other things, a free pass to the fitness center will be provided, along with a sampling of activities such as a free group fitness class. Several vendors will be on hand, providing wellness activities such as blood pressure checks, nutrition, massage, health products and assessments. Kids can get $1 off admission to the Eagles Nest Indoor Playground. For more information, call 651-638-2130.

Some recycling dates, zones change in 2010 To find out whether your service is changing, visit newbrighton.govoffice.com.

NEW HOPE

Open volleyball, basketball on tap New Hope is offering evening adult open volleyball on Thursdays and basketball games on Tuesdays at Cooper High School's community gyms.

Pickup games will be held from 7:45 to 9:45 p.m. The cost is $3 a visit or $20 for a 10-visit card. The open gyms will continue until late May at 8230 47th Av. N. in the north end of Cooper. For more information call the New Hope Parks and Recreation office at 763-531-5151.

Tot Gym Time New Hope also offers Tot Gym Time at the same location from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays. Bring your children ages 1 to 5 to play with balls, cars, scooters and more. No instruction is provided. The cost is $3 a visit or $20 for a 10-visit card. Call the parks office above for more information.

NORTH METRO

Mayors to sponsor snowmobile ride The mayors of Andover, Anoka and Ramsey are hosting the Mayor's Trail Ride, at 10:30 a.m., Jan. 30, starting at the Anoka County Fairgrounds, along the Rum River to McDuff's Eatery at Rum River Hills Golf Course, and back along the river to the new snowmobile parking area in downtown Anoka. Participation is $10 per person in advance, $20 the day of the event. Proceeds go to the Anoka Andover Ramsey Youth First program. For information, call 763-421-7130.

SPRING LAKE PARK

Chess tournament for K-8 students The Spring Lake Park gifted and talented parent group will hold its annual grades K-8 chess tournament and clinic from 8:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Jan. 30, in the Westwood Intermediate-Middle School cafeteria, 711 91st Av., Blaine. Participants should register by Jan. 14 and should furnish their own chess sets, labeled with names. Donations of $7 will help the organizers defray the cost of the event. An adult must accompany elementary grade-age children. If there are too many registrants to be accommodated, a lottery will be held to select participants. For more information, contact Marianne Paulos, 763-795-6354, or at mpaulo@district16.org, or Matthew Lange, 763-792-0880, or at matthew.lange@slpgt.org.

JIM ADAMS, MARIA ELENA BACA, NORMAN DRAPER, PAUL LEVY