North news briefs

Civil War Christmas at Rum River LibraryThe Anoka County Library and Anoka County Historical Society will present a look at the holidays as they would have been celebrated in the 1860s, including decorations, gifts, holiday foods, costumes and more. The event is 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Saturday, at the Rum River Library, 4201 6th Av., Anoka. For information, call 763-576-4695 or visit www.anoka.lib.mn.us.

Students to stage 'Queen's New Threads'"The Queen's New Threads," this year's fifth- and sixth-grade play from the Fridley Middle School drama department, will be presented on Friday and Saturday.

The musical production is a modern-day variation on the classic story "The Emperor's New Clothes." Performances will be at 7 o'clock each night at the Fridley District Auditorium, 6000 West Moore Lake Drive, Fridley.

Tickets will be available at the door for each performance; $3 for adults and $2 for students.

Community college to offer courses at YAnoka-Ramsey Community College will be partnering with the Emma B. Howe Northtown Family YMCA in Coon Rapids to offer courses at the Y site. The first three courses will be offered in the spring 2011 semester.

The YMCA will provide free, unlicensed day care for students' children.

"Offering classes here will make it convenient for parents to further their education and will also provide a safe, fun and nurturing environment for kids while their parents are in class. It's great for everyone," said Chad Lanners, executive director of the Emma B. Howe Family YMCA.

Sing-along, sale set at music schoolCamden Music School will hold a Holiday Sing-Along, Craft and Bake Sale from 4 to 5 p.m. Saturday. The event is free and will take place at Luther Memorial Lutheran Church, 3751 Sheridan Av. N., Minneapolis.

The school offers music classes for people of all ages. Luther Memorial is one of two sites where classes are held; the other is Grace Center for Community Life in northeast Minneapolis.

All proceeds from the bake and craft sale will go to the CMS Scholarship Fund, which helps individuals and families with tuition. For more information, call 612-618-0219 or e-mail info@camdenmusicschool.com.

Information session on therapy animalsThe Animal Humane Society will offer an information session from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday for people interested in learning about how to get an animal trained and registered as a volunteer for animal-assisted therapy work.

The session will address what makes a good therapy animal, the kind of training needed to get started, and what a human-animal team can do with its skills once it's registered.

It will take place at the Humane Society building at 845 Meadow Lane N., Golden Valley. The session is for humans only; don't bring the animals. For further information, send an e-mail to training@animalhumanesociety.org .

For more information, call the education department at 763-489-2220.

STAFF REPORTS

Free Bikes 4 Kidz bike giveaway aims to help 1,500 kidsFree Bikes 4 Kidz, organized by the G-Force Cycling Club of Minneapolis, hopes to provide bikes to 1,500 children this holiday season by collecting and refurbishing bikes people have stashed in garages all over the Twin Cities area. They've done it the last two years, giving away 250 bikes in 2008 and 450 in 2009.

This year, the group is collecting and repairing bikes in cooperation with Bachman's Flower & Garden Centers, Otten Brothers Nursery, Nice Ride MN, Free Wheel Bikes and Allina.

Bikes will be taken to one of the group's "bike shops" for any needed work, then given to a needy child along with a brand new helmet.