November at the Art Center

While November usually brings a lot of dark and gloomy days, we can still be thankful - it’s good reading weather. Plus there are some fun activities scheduled at the Fosston Community Library Arts Center.
On Wednesday, Nov. 6, from 2-5 p.m., there will be free family portraits taken at the library. Each participant is required to have (or to sign up for) a current LARL library card, and those are free too. If you wish to have prints made from the photos taken, bring in a flash drive or a writable CD, and the photo files will be copied for you to have.
Book club meets on Tuesday, Nov. 12, at 7 p.m. This month’s book is The Graveyard Book  by Neil Gaiman, a children’s fantasy novel set in a graveyard. While not a book I would have selected to read, once I got into it, I really enjoyed it. New members are welcome.
There will be a special event on Thursday, Nov. 21, at 7 p.m. when Bonnie Stewart will present a holiday workshop featuring menu ideas with wine pairings. Find out what wines to serve with various cheeses and/or chocolate.  Space is limited so preregistration is required. Call the library at 435-1320. Also put this on your calendar: The Daisy Hagen Auction for the Arts will be held Sunday, December 1. This biennial event is the FCLAA’s big fund-raiser with a number of donated items on the auction block: quilts, a cabin weekend, framed art, hand-woven baskets, baked goods, woodworking and much more. Items are available for view at 1 p.m. with the auction slated to begin at 2. Lynda Lohmeier will be the auctioneer. Refreshments will be served by the Fosston Athenian Club.
If you have preschoolers, here is an item of interest to you: beginning this month, story time will be offered twice weekly. So many little ones have been showing up Friday mornings that they hardly fit into the room, so a second session with the same theme will be held Wednesday mornings at 10:30 a.m.
Writers’ group will not meet in November because of the Thanksgiving holiday. Instead plan to come Thursday , Dec. 5, at 7:30 p.m. Again, new members are welcome any time.
Lastly, a reminder: The library will be closed Monday, Nov. 11, for Veterans Day, and, of course, Thursday, November 28, which is Thanksgiving Day.

Now at the Sorenson Gallery

 Works by Karen Dearing are currently on display at the Sorenson Gallery.

October at the Library Arts Center

I have two things to say about October: 1) How can it be here already when school just started last week?
2) BOOK SALE!  Yes, it’s time for the annual used book sale in the basement of the Fosston Library. The selection of books is great with something for everyone, and nothing is priced at more than a dollar. Proceeds go toward library programming. Shop early for best selection.
Of course, I actually have several more things to say about what’s going on in October at the Fosston Community Library Arts Center.
Featured in the gallery is a display by local artist Karen Dearing. There are papier-mâché bowls, collages and assemblage work. Come and take a look; then go shopping in the basement.
There are two special musical programs during the month.  The Galactic Cowboy Orchestra will be performing on Friday, Oct. 4, at 7 p.m. This four-piece ensemble plays what is described as “an eclectic mix of original and traditional country-edged, jazz/fusion instrumental pieces.”  Then, on Wednesday, Oct. 30, singer/songwriter Kevin Bowe will perform at 7 p.m. Bowe was raised in rural Minnesota and has performed with a number of different bands. His style is described as “roots/Americana.”
In conjunction with Teen Read Week, there will be a special program of interest to adults too as paranormal researcher Chad Lewis will do a presentation on Minnesota’s Most Haunted Locations on Friday, Oct. 18, at 7 p.m. Lewis spoke here several years ago and drew a standing-room-only crowd, so you may want to come early to get a good seat.
Book club will meet on Tuesday, Oct. 8, at 7 p.m. This month’s selection is Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline. It’s a good one.
Keep in mind that the Daisy Hagen Auction for the Arts will be held on Sunday, Dec. 1, at 1 p.m. If you are interested in donating something, contact Sandy Johnson (435-1600) or Sarah Steinbrenner 435-6504). Sandy and Sarah, both members of the FCLAA board, have taken on the task of being in charge of the auction this year. FYI, other members of the board are Orland Aspen, Wonell Miller, Ray Miller, Keri Mireault, Becky Overmoe, Jeanne Rains, Bernadette Sorenson, Bonnie Stewart and Scot Wilson.
Here’s one last little tidbit: The library will be closed on Columbus Day, Monday, Oct. 14, while the staff attends an all-day workshop.