Friday, March 29, 2013

April at the Arts Center

April - and the burning question is: Will the snow be gone by the end of the month? One can only hope. There is no question about this though: there is a full schedule of events at the Fosston Community Library Arts Center.

Author-illustrator/musician Doug Wood, whose best known book is Old Turtle, will be at the elementary school on Monday and Tuesday, April 8 and 9. He will also be at the Arts Center Monday evening for a musical presentation and book talk. Time for the event is 7 p.m. Refreshments will be served.

Books & BonBons Book Club meets Tuesday, April 9, at 7 p.m. This month’s book is Defending Jacob by William Landay. I haven’t read it yet, but I’ve heard good things about it, and I know the dessert is always good. Come and join the conversation.

The twelfth annual Festival of Tables fund-raiser will take place on Saturday, April 13, at 11:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church here in Fosston. Tickets are available at the library or from Kim Wilson (435-6753) or Joan Dufault (435-6986). Buy in advance as there may not be any left by the day of the luncheon.

National Library Week is April 14-20 with several special events planned. On Monday, April 15, at 11 a.m., there will be a class for those of you who are not yet on Facebook but would like to be. Call the library (435-1320) to pre-register.

On Tuesday, April 16, at 7 p.m. author Wendell Affield will be at the library to talk about his book, Muddy Jungle Rivers. Affield is a Minnesota author and a Vietnam veteran, and his book is based on his experiences in the war. This event is co-sponsored by Fosston American Legion Post 114.

Then on Wednesday, April 17, at 1:30 p.m., Minnesota folk singer/songwriter Dennis Warner, will present a concert. Warner’s best-known song is "Beads on a String," which has been released as a children’s book. His concerts are suitable for all ages.

An extra special happening Friday, April 12, through Sunday, April 21, is the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council exhibit. This is a juried show of approximately 100 pieces from adult and student artists in the region. Viewing times are during library hours as well as from noon to 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 21. That same day there will be a reception from 1:30-3 with announcement of awards, music and refreshments.

And that’s not all - on Tuesday, April 23, at 1 p.m., historian Vickie Wendel, will be at the library with a program called "Fashion Trends and Issues: 1850s to 1920s. She will follow women’s fashions from the sewing machine to ready-made clothing ordered from a mail order catalog. This program is supported by Legacy Amendment funds, as is the Dennis Warner concert.

I also need to mention the current display of rosemaling in the Sorensen Gallery. If you haven’t yet seen it, be sure to stop by and take a look as it will be up only until April 10. There are some beautiful pieces painted by a number of local rosemalers.

And lastly, April is Food for Fines month at the library. If you have overdue fines yet to be paid, bring in a non-perishable food item and for each item, $2.00 will be taken off your fine. Food donated will go to the Fosston Loaves and Fishes food shelf.

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Monday, March 4, 2013

March - Events at the Fosston Library Arts Center

As I look out my window on the final day of February, I see a white landscape. Looking out another window, I see icicles that must be ten feet long. I’m hoping that by the end of March, the view will look different, not that I expect to see any green by then, but even brown would be a nice change. I can’t predict the weather, however, but I can tell you what is scheduled to go on at the Fosston Community Library Arts Center.

On Saturday, March 23, at 10:15 a.m., State Rep. Dean Urdahl will be at the Fosston Library, not to talk politics (at least I assume not) but to talk about the U.S. Dakota Conflict of 1862. Rep. Urdahl has written a trilogy about what is also known as the Sioux Uprising. The books are called Uprising, Retribution, and Pursuit. Urdahl, a retired teacher and coach, has served in the Minnesota House since 2002, representing District 18A. Originally from Litchfield, he currently lives in Grove City. His great-grandfather buried the Dakota Conflict’s first five victims.

The library will be the scene of an interesting competition on Tuesday, March 26, at 2 p.m. when it holds its first-ever teen-tween "Chopped " Challenge. This is a cooking contest for students in grades 6-12, working in teams of three. Each team will be given three ingredients and then have an hour to complete an appetizer, a main dish and a dessert. Winning team members will receive $2 off their library fines and first dibs on the door prizes. If you have a child or grandchild who likes to cook, encourage them to enter. Preregistration is required.

Books and BonBons book club will meet Tuesday, March 12, at 7 p.m. This month’s selection is entitled The Peach Keeper; the author is Sarah Addison Allen. I haven’t read it yet, but I’m hoping for a peach dessert. Writers’ group will not meet in March because of Holy Week, but will meet the Thursday, April 4, at 7:30 p.m.

The FCLAA membership drive is now in progress. If you would like to contribute but haven’t received a mailing on this, you may pick up a form at the art center. I promise you will not receive any annoying phone calls.

Just to give you a heads up, there are some exciting events on the agenda for April: Festival of Tables will be Saturday, April 13, Northwest Minnesota Arts Exhibition Wednesday-Sunday, April 17-21 with an artists’ reception and award ceremony on Sunday, and author Doug Woods will be at the elementary school Monday and Tuesday, April 8 & 9. with a presentation Monday evening at the Art Center.