Twin Cities north metro town briefs: Area is part of volleyball extravaganza

If you're a volleyball fan, this is your weekend. More than 660 girls' teams from Minnesota, four other states and Canada will be taking part in the 24th annual Presidents' Day Festival at 171 courts throughout the Twin Cities and in Rochester. The festival is presented by North Country Region Volleyball for Life.

North metro sites include Andover, Anoka, Champlin Park, Coon Rapids, Maple Grove and Spring Lake Park.

Play will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday and, after a day of activity, resume Sunday morning. All contests are free and open to the public.

For further information, go to www.ncrusav.org.

Anoka Technical College will host a spring job fair on Tuesday, Feb. 25. It is open to the public, students and alumni. It runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Anoka Technical College, 1333 Hwy. 10, Anoka.

For more information, contact Anoka Technical College's placement coordinator and event organizer, Arlys Hengemuhle at ahengemuhle@ano katech.edu or 763-576-7780.

For more information about job placement services at Anoka Technical College, go to www.anokatech.edu/en/StudentServices/Services/CareerServices.aspx.

A full moon that night will provide an opportunity to cross-country ski or snowshoe; there also will be a simple Valentine's dinner and dessert. Cost is $20 a person plus tax. Preregistration is required. Go to www.anoka countyparks.com/programs.

Coon Rapids is accepting applications for the 2014 Citizen's Academy.

Residents will learn about the city's police and fire departments and take a tour of the cable TV studio in the seven-week class.

Classes will run from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Mondays from March 3 through April 14. Apply online registration at www.ci.coon-rapids.mn.us/citizenacademy/index.htm.

The application deadline is 4:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14. The academy is limited to 20 participants. Contact Cathy Sorensen with questions at 763-767-6493 or csorensen@coonrapidsmn.gov.

Music Night is an acoustic open mic event on a small stage with a piano. It will start at 7 p.m. at the hall, 530 Mill St. in Columbia Heights.

Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis is offering $99 lung cancer screening for people who may be concerned that they're at risk for the disease. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States.

"We know that by the time lung cancer causes symptoms like cough and chest pain, it's usually advanced and has spread to other organs," said radiologist Dr. Gopal Punjabi. "For years, there has been tremendous interest in catching lung cancer early, so this test is a very important development."

The hospital says that if you're between ages of 55 and 79 and you smoked for more than 30 years, or you quit less than 15 years ago, you may be eligible for the low-dose CT scan.

A doctor's order is not required; however, HCMC says patients should discuss this test with their doctor. If they do not have a primary-care provider, they can call 612-873-2065 and the CT scan can be ordered after making sure the criteria are met.

Families are invited to attend a parent-child sweetheart dance from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Feb. 15 at Spring Lake Park High School.

The Spring Lake Park Recreation Department, Community Education and Spring Lake Park Lions Club are teaming up to host the event. Cost is $7 a pair. To register, call 763-792-7201.