Northstar schedule changes; ex-smoker wins $5K for quitting - "Sun Focus Today" - Wednesday, Nov. 25

*Note: Due to the holiday weekend, we will not be producing regular webcasts on Thursday and Friday this week. Instead, we'll post special holiday features during the next few days and over the weekend. Check back at www.mnsun.com for feature videos.

Schedules for the Northstar Commuter Rail are being tweaked - starting on Monday. Trains leaving downtown Minneapolis on weekdays will depart five minutes later than originally scheduled. New departure times are 3:55 p.m., 4:25 p.m., 4:55 p.m., 5:25 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. The morning reverse commute trip also will leave five minutes later at 6:10 a.m. Apparently, it was too much of a rush to leave jobs and make it comfortably to departing trains, according to Metro Transit. Also, because the kickoff time for Sunday's Vikings-Bears game has been changed to 3:15 p.m., Metro Transit will add a special Northstar train to take fans home after the game. The train will leave Target Field Station at 7:20 p.m. Normal weekend fares apply. Northstar service to the Vikings-Bears game will be accommodated by the regular Sunday train schedule with an arrival at Target Field Station scheduled at 1:45 p.m. An earlier Sunday train arrives at Target Field Station at 11:20 a.m. Northstar customers traveling between Target Field Station and the Metrodome can use the Hiawatha light-rail line. For information on fares, schedules and transfers, customers can visit www.metrotransit.org or call to talk with a transit professional at 612-373-3333.

A Columbia Heights dad-to-be won $5,000 through the ClearWay Minnesota's QuitCash Challenge for not using tobacco throughout October. Nearly 2,000 smokers registered for this fall's challenge, which is in its second year. Before the contest even began, Doug Dawson had already planned to kick the habit. He and his wife, Katie, are expecting their first child, and Doug said he decided to quit smoking to help his wife quit. Doug said he started smoking at 14 years old, and has been smoking about two packs a day since. Doug had never tried to quit before, because he thought it would be too hard. When he decided to quit, he used prescription medication to block cravings and found new habits to distract him. Katie, being 23-weeks along in her pregnancy, had to quit cold turkey. His $5,000 grand prize, he said, would be "baby money." Prizes were also awarded to three other contestants: Mary Poff of Brooklyn Park won the $2,000 Mall of America gift card; and both Ronda Waldemar of Rochester and Hildr Mason of St. Paul Park each won one $1,000 Gander Mountain gift card. See tomorrow's "On the Bright Side" Sun-Focus print edition for the full story or visit www.mnsun.com/ch.

EVENTS THIS WEEKEND

The Eagles Nest Indoor Playground, 400 10th St. in New Brighton, will hold a hoe-down, wild-west Adventure Day. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, and is free with the purchase of the Eagles Nest admission. Kids can come dressed in their best western duds and receive $1 off admission. Special crafts will be sold for an additional $1. The day includes playtime in the playground, inflatable bouncers and a themed activity.

The Men's Auxiliary to VFW Post 363 in Fridley will hold their regular Pork Sandwich Day on Saturday, Nov. 28. Serving starts at 12:30 p.m. The cost is $5 and proceeds will support community projects. Call the Post at 763-780-3694 or visit online at www.vfw363.org for more information.

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