Twin Cities north metro town briefs

Anoka-Ramsey Community College is now offering a Pharmacy Technician associate in science degree.

The college added the program to meet the credentialing that industry experts predict will be required in the near future.

The required general education courses for the new degree program can be taken at either the Cambridge or Coon Rapids campus but the program-specific classes are held in Cambridge.

"This is an exciting opportunity for both our students and business partners in the Cambridge area," said Natasha Baer, associate dean of educational services, in a statement. "The addition of this program provides more flexible training options that lead to industry employment in a short amount of time."

Applications for the Pharmacy Technician program for the fall 2014 semester will be accepted Feb. 1 through Feb. 28.

For more details visit www.anokaramsey.edu.

Photographer Doug Ohman will give a presentation Thursday, Feb. 6, in Lino Lakes on his current project about Civil war monuments in Minnesota.

The program is part of the Anoka County Historical Society's Civil War Series. For further information, call 763-421-0600 or go to www.AnokaCountyHistory.org

On Saturday, Feb. 8, the Historical Society will give a presentation titled "Safe for Democracy," looking at daily life in Anoka County during World War I. The program will begin at 2 p.m. at the Northtown Library, 711 County Rd.10 NE in Blaine.

For further information, call 763-717-3267 or go to www.AnokaCountyHistory.org

This year's 50th anniversary edition of Snowflake Days continues with a variety of activities through Feb. 16. So if you missed some of last week's opening events, don't worry: The North Stars Alumni hockey game, youth fishing tournament, Anoka County Polar Plunge and Coon Rapids Junior Royalty Pageant are still to come.

"After a quiet last three or four years, we've been really ambitious," said Diane Buszta, event president. "Getting the North Stars players for the alumni game [Saturday at the Coon Rapids Ice Center] has gotten a lot of people excited. And wait till people see the ice bar we've built when it's all lit up."

"There's nothing in this area that rivals this," Buszta said. "If you want to experience winter in Coon Rapids, there's no better way."

A complete schedule of events is on the Web at http://coonrapidssnowflakedays.weebly.com/snowflake-days-events-at-a-glance.html.

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 television 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.

Residents are encouraged to drop off unused or expired prescription medications through the Lino Lakes Police Department's disposal program.

Medications can be dropped off from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Police Department, 640 Town Center Pkwy.

According to the police, the nonmedical use of prescription drugs ranks second only to marijuana as the most-common form of drug abuse in the United States. Teenagers abusing prescription drugs often get them from family and friends and the home medicine cabinet. You can contact Lino Lakes Police at 651-982-2300 with questions.

The New Hope Planning Commission will review an application for a 68-unit apartment building on city-owned land at 6113 W. Broadway at its Wednesday, Feb. 5, meeting. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall, 4401 Xylon Av. N.

The St. Anthony Police Department is accepting applications for police reserve officers. Those interested should complete a city employment application and return it to the police department. It is a volunteer position. Reserve officers assist at the city's annual celebration, Village Fest. They help with parking, community events, crime prevention activities and other special events. Applications can be found at www.ci.saint-anthony.mn.us.