North town briefs

Northstar fares will be discussed at hearings Proposed fares for the Northstar line, the commuter rail service set to open this fall, will be discussed at three public hearings in April.

The Metropolitan Council is proposing the following fares to downtown Minneapolis: $8 from Big Lake; $6 from Elk River; $4 from Anoka and Coon Rapids, and $3.25 from Fridley. The 40-mile trip from Big Lake to Minneapolis is expected to take 45 minutes.

The public hearings will be held:

• Noon to 1 p.m. April 8, at the Minneapolis Central Library Doty Room;

• 7-8 p.m. April 8, at the Sherburne County Government Center Board Room in Elk River, and

• 6:30-7:30 p.m. April 14, at the Anoka County Government Center Board Room in Anoka.

Follow Anoka County on Twitter How tweet it is. Now you can follow Anoka County on Twitter.

"This is a great tool because it allows us to get the message out immediately about virtually anything, be it a road closure, park program, or guest author at a library," said Anoka County Board Chairman Dennis Berg.

"Many people have a computer, cell phone, and most likely both. Twitter makes the connection, using the latest technology for the public good, at no cost to the taxpayer."

Sign up to follow Anoka County at Twitter.com or simply view the latest Anoka County updates at www.twitter.com/anokacounty.

Learn how to find good books for kids The Rum River Library will host "Finding Books Your Kids Want to Read" on Tuesday. Library staff will provide tips to encourage reluctant readers and to find good books for children.

The free event, beginning at 6:30 p.m., is provided by grants from the state Education Department and the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services. For more information about family reading programs, go to the library website at www.anoka.lib.mn.us.

Speakers include community organizer and former University of Minnesota Regent Josie Johnson, retired Judge LaJune Thomas Lange, and 1960s Freedom Rider and lawyer and journalist Peter Ackerberg. The program is free.

For more information, call 952-847-5600.

Car seat inspections Anoka County will offer residents free car seat inspections at the Fridley Fire Department between 4 and 7 p.m. Tuesday. Safe Kids Anoka County says most car seats are incorrectly installed. Call 763-572-3626 for an appointment.

Libraries host variety of programs for teens The Hennepin County Library is offering a wide range of programs for teens at its suburban and Minneapolis city libraries. Here's a sampling:

• Teen Book Club, 4 p.m. Monday at Brookdale Library, 6125 Shingle Creek Pkwy., Brooklyn Center. For teens in grade 7 and up to gather and talk about great books. 952-847-5600.

• Teen Foreign Film Festival on Thursdays, March 12-April 30 (except April 9). All shows are 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Franklin Library, 1314 E. Franklin Av., Minneapolis. For grades 6 and up, an eight-week series of critically acclaimed films from other countries. March films include "Run Lola Run" (Germany) on March 12; "Dare Mo Shiranai" ("Nobody Knows," from Japan) on March 19; and "Cave of the Yellow Dog" (Mongolia), March 26. Call 612-630-6800.

For more on these and dozens of other programs at Hennepin County's 41 libraries, go to www.hclib.org .

County Board wants input on cost cutting The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners is seeking citizen input on how the county can cut costs when it faces significant cuts in state and federal funding and other financial challenges.

Residents can submit their ideas on the county website at www.hennepin.us/Suggestions. Suggestion boxes also are being set up at 41 county libraries and at the seven county service centers.

Questions that the county is asking include whether there are more cost-effective ways to deliver services, whether there are services or programs that could be cut or modified, and what the county's priorities should be.