Twin Cities north metro town briefs

Exhibitors are being sought for the North Suburban Home Improvement Show on March 22 at the Andover YMCA Community Center. Organizers say that last year's show drew more than 1,300 visitors.

The show will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on that Saturday. It is sponsored by the cities of Andover, Anoka and Coon Rapids, as well as Anoka County and the Anoka Area Chamber of Commerce.

For information, call or email Cindy at accinfo@andovermn.gov or 763-767-5100.

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

For more information, contact Anoka Technical College's placement coordinator and event organizer, Arlys Hengemuhle at ahengemuhle@anokatech.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.

Sunday, March 2, is the date for the First Annual Freestyle Cross Country Ski Race at Green Haven Golf Course. Two races will take place: a 1-kilometer for ages 12 and under and a 5K for those 13 and older. The 5K will have three age groups: 13-18, 19-34 and 34 and above.

For further information, including registration forms, go to www.greenhavengolfcourse.com. Registration will also be available from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. on the day of the races. The 1K will start at 1 p.m. and the 5K at 1:30.

The golf course is located at 2800 Greenhaven Rd., Anoka.

Anoka-Hennepin students won't make up any of the district's five cold-weather cancellations.

The Anoka-Hennepin School Board announced its decision last week. The district has enough leeway in its existing calendar to avoid makeup days.

"While educators regret the lost instructional time, they realize that changing the school calendar mid-year could place a hardship on families that have already scheduled vacations. In addition, the school calendar includes enough days beyond the state minimum so there is no requirement to make up days already lost," the board said in a statement.

Another "Music Night in the Heights" will be held on Thursday, Feb. 20, at Murzyn Hall's Labelle Lounge.

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.

Information on such wedding topics as florists, photographers, entertainment and more will be available at a wedding expo scheduled for Saturday, March 1, at the Coon Rapids Civic Center. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with more than two dozen vendors on hand. Tickets are $5. The center is located at 11155 Robinson Dr. Call 763-767-6522 for more information.

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."

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.

The scan takes about five seconds. A radiologist reviews the scan right away, and real-time results are available to patients if they don't want to wait.

A prostate cancer support group will meet at 5:30 p.m. next Wednesday, Feb. 26, at North Memorial Medical Center, 3300 Oakdale Av. N., Robbinsdale. Dr. Thomas Stillwell, a urologist and prostate cancer survivor himself, will speak to the group. A question and answer segment will follow. Wives and friends are welcome to attend. There is no charge. For further information, call 612-388-3588.