We move into April

As always, the burning question as we move forward into April is “Will the April showers be rain showers or snow showers?” That remains to be seen, but I can tell you a few things about the Aurora Center for the Arts and the Fosston Library. Kip Fontaine is one of the new board members for the Aurora Center. A graduate of Concordia College and the University of Minnesota Law School, Kip and his wife Sheila live on Maple Lake with their German Shepherd Lilah. He is a very active volunteer in the region, currently serving as chair of Alluma and as president of the United in Christ Lutheran Parish, just to mention a couple of his interests. He is interested in theater, having acted in plays during his high school days in Red Lake Falls and in community theater productions. During his career as an attorney, he served as assistant Polk County Attorney and as Clearwater County Attorney for several years. Now retired but still busy, he sometimes provides fill-in daycare for his grandchildren. There are 10 of them, with nine of them being five and under. He enjoys photography, reading, traveling and being out on the lake. Kip says he is excited to be on the Aurora board to listen and learn about the arts in the area. Also new to the board is Mike McColl, who is currently the art teacher at the Fosston High School, his alma mater. He and his wife Janette live in Lengby, in the old Lengby School building where they offer art classes, artists’ retreats, and a summer day camp for kids. They share their home with three cats. Their combined family includes three sons and a daughter, as well as two grandchildren, with one more on the way. Mike was originally from the Twin Cities area, but lived here from the time he was 13 until he graduated from high school. After a stint in the navy, he worked in a variety of occupations, including cabinetmaking and managing night clubs and housing. He attended Augsburg College and the U of M, graduating from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. His ethnic heritage includes a grandfather who came from Greece, which makes him kind of a minority around here. Mike says he is looking forward to serving on the Aurora Board. On Saturday, April 27, there will be a reception for artist Pam Edevold at the Sorenson Gallery from 11-12:30. Her exhibit, “Preserving Local Indigenous Heritage through Regalia,” will be at the gallery through the month of April. Information about 2024Aurora memberships is available at auroracenterforthearts.org If you are a member, watch for the Spring/Summer newsletter which will be coming out some time this month. Meanwhile, at the Fosston Library, book club is scheduled for Tuesday, April 9, at 7 p.m. and Tuesday, April 16, at 2 p.m. This month’s book is Chronicles of a Radical Hagby Minnesota author Lorna Landvik. Check with the library to get a copy of the book. Wednesday, April 17, is the day for kid’s bingo. Time is 3:30. On Wednesday, May 1, Doug Ohman, photographer and storyteller, will present “Name That Town: Journey through Northern Minnesota.” The presentation is sponsored jointly by NELL and LARL. The program is at 9:30 – doors open at 9:00.

Currently in the Sorenson - works by Pam Edevold

March

Winter seems to be heading down the home stretch toward spring, although March often brings more than its share of cold and snow. Meteorological predictions aren’t really my strong suit, but I can tell you a few things about the Aurora Center for the Arts and the Fosston Library. At its annual meeting in February, the Aurora Center elected the following officers and directors for the coming year: Abby Pearson, president; Kirby Vossler, vice president; Joann Papke, secretary; Maggie Stewart, treasurer; and directors Kate Moore, Mike Mulry, Karen Norland, and Mike McColl. We look forward to good things to come. Beginning March 4 (or thereabouts) the Sorenson Gallery will feature Pamela Edevold’s “Preserving Local Indigenous Heritage through Regalia.” Edevold photographed, interviewed, and painted local native dancers. Each of the ten acrylic paintings is accompanied by a narrative. The display will be at the gallery through the month of April. At the Fosston Library, March’s book club selection is The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes. Set in France in 1916 and in London in 2006, the dual love story asks the question, “What happened to the girl you left behind?" You have two options – book club meets on Tuesday, March 12, at 7 p.m. and also on Tuesday, March 19, at 2 p.m. Check at the library for a copy of the book. Children’s bingo will be Wednesday, March 20, at 12:30. That’s an early out day for school, so the kiddos can get an early start on winning some prizes. For the younger children and their caregivers, preschool storytime is each Monday at 10:30 a.m. See you at the library!

February is here

February is here, and it seems to be coming in like a lamb. Oh, wait, isn’t that how March is supposed to go out? I don’t really know what is in store as far as the weather for the rest of the winter months, but I can tell you about a few things going on at the Aurora Center for the Arts and the Fosston Library. The Aurora Center’s annual meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 7, at 7 p.m. in the Sorenson Gallery with annual reports and election of officers. If you would like to know what goes on behind the scenes, you are welcome to attend. While you are there, take a look at the exhibit of Cindy Kolling’s artwork on display in the gallery. Of course, if you are not interested in coming to the meeting, the gallery is open during regular library hours. The library book club will meet on Tuesday, February 13, at 7 p.m. and on Tuesday, February 20, at 2 p.m. This month’s book is The Shadow Box by Luanne Rice. I haven’t read it yet, but I found this description of the book: “a haunting thriller about how far one wife is willing to go to expose the truth—and the lengths someone will go to stop her.” Coffee (or water) and treats will be served. Check with the library to obtain a copy of the book. The Book Blizzard winter reading program continues through the month. Reading four books will give you a chance at a prize. Reading logs are available at the library. Bingo for the kiddos will be on Wednesday, February 21, at 3:30 p.m. Everyone hopes to win a prize. Preschool story time will be Monday, February 26, at 10:30 a.m. This is a great activity for the little ones. The library will be closed on Monday, February 19, in observance of Presidents Day. If you are running out of reading material, remember that e-books are always available for download.

January

A new month and a new year – January 2024. While no one knows what the coming year will bring, there is always something new at the Aurora Center for the Arts and the Fosston Library. If one of your New Years resolutions has to do with getting more organized, the library has just the thing for you. On Thursday, January 11 at 7 p.m., there will be a virtual organizing workshop with Minnesota author Jessica Litman, who wrote Home Sweet Organized Home No registration is required. Just go to larl.org/organization. No worries if that’s a bad time for you, a recording will be available until February 8. If you are resolving to read more books in 2024, you may as well join Book Blizzard, the library’s winter reading adventure, for a shot at some cozy prizes. Complete a reading log for every four books you read (or listen to) from January 2 to February 29 to be entered into the prize drawing. Forms are available at the library or online at larl.org/bookblizzard. The library book club continues to provide two options to attend: Tuesday, Jan. 9, at 7 p.m. and Tuesday, Jan.16, at 2 p.m. Both groups will be discussing the book, The Kindest Lie by Nancy Johnson. If you need a copy of the book, check with the library. Bingo for the kids, always a popular activity, is scheduled for Wednesday, January 17, at 3:30 p.m. Everyone hopes for a prize. Works by Cindy Kolling of Gully are scheduled to be displayed at the Sorensen Gallery mid-January through February. The exhibit is entitled “It’s Not Nothing… and Those Aren’t Weeds.” It sounds interesting. The Aurora Center for the Arts will be holding its annual meeting in February this year. Watch for more information next month. And a reminder – the library will be closed Monday, January 15, in observance of Martin Luther King Day.

September

September is here – days are shorter and maybe cooler, the squirrels are busy gathering acorns, and students are back in school. At the Fosston Community Library Arts Center, now to be known as the Aurora Center for the Arts, music lessons will be resuming as well. Jeff Menten will be available to teach violin, viola, cello, string bass and guitar. His schedule is already quite full, but he should have room for some online students. You may contact him at 218-255-0087. I will once again be giving piano lessons. My contact information is aagekay@gvtel.com, 218-435-6710 (land line) or 218-289-3968 (call or text). If you are interested in lessons for yourself or your child, please contact the instructors directly. Now, back to the name change for the FCLAA, as it has been known for 43 years. The board of directors has decided it’s time for a change. To learn more about this decision, you are invited to a re-branding event on Wednesday, Sept. 13, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. I’m quite sure there will be refreshments. Also beginning in September at the Fosston Library is preschool storytime on Monday, Sept. 11, at 10:30 a.m. (Notice the change of day) and bingo for kids on Wednesday, September 20, beginning at 3:30 p.m. A special program is coming up on Wednesday, Sept. 17 at 1 p.m. There will be music and storytelling by The Skally Line as performers Fred Keller and Bill Cagley travel around the curves and bends of early American music, playing Appalachian ballads, fiddle tunes, stringband blues, bluegrass and more, accompanied by forgotten rip-roaring stories from Minnesota’s history. This program is geared toward adults, and admission is free, thanks to funding from the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund. On October 3, a leather-working activity for adult is planned for 6:30 p.m.. There is no cost to the participants, but preregistration is required. For more information contact the library at 218-435-1320. The library book club will hold its first meeting of the fall on Tuesday, Oct. 9. This year we will be offering two options as to time, one at 2 p.m. and one at 7 p.m. The book for October is West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge. For more information or to reserve a copy of the book, call the library.

Summer student art