Fosston Library book tree

How inventive - a Christmas tree constructed of books, and how appropriate for a library.

December at the Art Center

        Snow and ice, cold temperatures, long dark winter nights - it must be December. Once again  you  may get into the holiday spirit by attending a special program of Christmas music at the Fosston Community Library Arts Center on Sunday, Dec. 7, at 7:00 p.m. Orland Aspen’s vocal students will be performing, refreshments will be served, and it’s free. What more could you ask for?
The library book club will be having a Christmas party on Tuesday, Dec. 9, at 7 p.m. This month’s book is  He Sees You When You’re Sleeping by  mother and daughter team Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark. Attendees are asked to bring  appetizers or treats to share as well as some suggestions as to what  to read in the coming year. New members are always welcome.
Plans are for a new exhibit to go up in the Sorenson Gallery by mid-December. It will feature mixed media/assemblage art by Fosston resident Karen Dearing.
If you are looking ahead to the new year and  are thinking you might like an opportunity to volunteer your time and talents, I have a suggestion for you.  The FCLAA board will be needing four new members in January. This board supervises the various activities sponsored by the FCLAA - gallery, theater, music, and lectures, as well as helping to promote the Fosston Library. Meetings are held at 5:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month. If you think you might be interested, contact Keri Mireault (435-6675) for more information.
Writers’ group will meet Thursday, Dec. 4, at 7:30 p.m. This group is for anyone interested in writing, whether for publication or just for their own family. Usually folks bring a sample of their writing to share with the group, but if you think you may be interested, you’re welcome to just sit in and find out what goes on.
The library is looking pretty festive these days as more winter/Christmas decorations are going up right along. The Christmas tree constructed of books is particularly impressive so be sure to take note of that when you’re there.
Just a reminder about holiday closings:
The library will close at noon on Dec. 24 and of course be closed Christmas Day. It will be open for the usual hours on Dec. 26. On New Year’s Eve, the library will close at 5 p.m. and be closed New Year’s Day, reopening for normal hours on Jan. 2.
Stay warm and have a Merry Christmas.

November Happenings

For better or worse, November is here. There isn’t snow on the ground yet, Thanksgiving Day will be here before we know it, and there are some good things on the schedule at the Fosston Community Library Arts Center. We should all give thanks.
On Wednesday, November 12, at 6:30 p.m., there will be a free concert by Paul Imholte, who is known as the Musical Stringman. While Imholte’s primary instrument is the hammered dulcimer, he also plays about a dozen other instruments, including fiddle, guitar, banjo, mandolin, viola, cello and autoharp. He will be performing Celtic melodies, humorous songs and ballads. This is a Legacy event you don’t want to miss.
While story time at the library is always special, it is even more so now, thanks a special collaboration with Project Get Outdoors, Inc. Once a month Alysa Zimmerle from Crookston, who works with the Project GO, will partner with Tammi to present a story time promoting nature exploration and outdoor learning. The theme in October was “Fall.” Coming up on November 14 will be “Hibernation and How Animals Prepare for Winter.” Tammi says they may even transform the library picnic table into a bear cave.
The big book sale during October took in at least $800. The money goes to help library program. Thanks to everyone who purchased books or donated.
The current display in the gallery is text-based drawing projects bys Brett Lysne. Most of these works were developed while Lysne was artist-in -residence at the New York Mills Regional Cultural Center. Small in scale and rich in detail, the drawing require close scrutiny to be appreciated. You may want to bring your magnifying glass.
Book club meets Tuesday, Nov. 18, at 7 p.m. This month’s selection is Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout. New members are always welcome.
The library will be closed on Tuesday, Nov. 11, for Veteran’s Day and Thursday, Nov. 27, for Thanksgiving Day. It will close at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 26.
Coming up in December:
Mom to Mom group - Tuesday, Dec. 2, 7 p.m. Michelle Johnson will have some holiday decorating tips.
Writers’ Group - Thursday, Dec. 4, 7:30 p.m. (postponed from November)

October at the Library

What can one say about October? It’s here again, the leaves are beautiful this year, and the Fosston Library Arts Center has lots of interesting things going on this month. The used book sale will be in the basement the whole month with lots and lots of books, CDs, video tapes and DVDs. Nothing costs more than a dollar and proceeds go toward library programming. You can find the best bargains in town, except maybe for your library card.
The library has a new employee, Jennifer Moan, who replaces Michelle Johnson. Jennifer lives on a farm north of McIntosh with her husband Steve and their 11-year-old daughter, whom she home schools. There she raises chickens, gardens and loves to read. A self-described “Air Force brat,” Jennifer moved to this area from Madison, Wisconsin. She also has an adult daughter and two grandchildren. Welcome her when you see her in the library.
Author Annalee Woodstrom will be speaking at the library on Thursday, Oct. 2, at 6:30 p.m. Woodstrom was born and grew up in a small town in Bavaria, where she saw the rise of Hitler and experienced World War II. She came to the US in 1947 as the bride of an American serviceman. Her two books are War Child and Empty Chairs.  This program is funded by money from the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.
Another Legacy Fund event will take place on Oct. 23, at 7 p.m. Robert and Lynn Halbrook’s Steampunk Magic Show is described as presenting “a unique blend of comedy and mechanical magical wizardry.” It explores the type of science fiction that is known as Steampunk. This family-friendly presentation can be enjoyed by young people and adults as well.
October 13-18 is Teen Read Week. Teens are invited to enter the design-your-own-bookmark contest.  In addition, any teen caught reading in the library will win a prize.
The library book club meets Tuesday, Oct. 14, at 7 p.m. The book for this month is And the Mountains Echoes by Khaled Hosseini. There will be coffee and maybe some treats. New members are always welcome.
Mom-to-Mom time is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 21, at 7 p.m. This month’s topic is spooky Halloween treats.
The writers’ group has resumed meeting after a summer hiatus.  They will meet again on Thursday, Oct. 23. All aspiring writers are welcome.
Looking ahead, I’ve heard the exciting news that there may be a winter musical theater production of It’s a Wonderful Life. Watch for more information.
One final note: The library will be closed Monday, Oct. 13 (Columbus Day) as the staff will be attending LARL staff day in Moorhead.

Traveling Art Show

Brook Panzer's horsehair pottery

The Traveling Mini Art Exhibit sponsored by the Northwest Regional Arts Council is currently on display in the Sorenson Gallery. Fifteen pieces of artwork were selected for this annual traveling art exhibition. They include original paintings, mosaic, drawings, pastel, prints and clay pottery.

Jan Osborn's pen & ink drawing of the Settler's Cabin at Old Mill State Park

September at the Art Center

Once again we are saying goodbye to summer and hello to fall as we move into September, an exciting time at the Fosston Community Library Art Center, where many activities are resuming after a summer break.
Music lessons will again be offered and this fall we have an additional guitar teacher - Scott Paavola, who lives in  the Waubun area. Originally from Wisconsin, Scott studied music at the University of Wisconsin - Superior and has played both acoustic and electric guitar for many years. His phone number is 218-556-8669.
Other instructors are:
Eric Olson (guitar, bass and drums) - pastorericolson@gmail.com or 218-694-2687;
Jeff Menten, member of American String Teachers Association, (violin, viola, cello, mandolin, upright bass)  218-255-0087 or jeffmentenmusic@hotmail.com; Orland Aspen (voice) - musicman56@gvtel.com or 435-6791; Kay Carlsen (piano) - aagekay@gvtel.com or 435-6710;  Lora Lee Saeter (piano) saeter@gvtel.com or 435-1422. If you or your child are interested in lessons, please contact one of the instructors directly.
Beginning Friday, September 5, the Sorenson Gallery will be hosting the Northwest Regional Arts Council’s mini art exhibit, which features paintings, photography, drawings, pastels, and clay pottery. The artists are all from the Northwest Region.
Coming up on Tuesday, Sept. 16, at 7 p.m. is a special presentation on Amish quilting. Julie Truax Tebay is from the Rochester area, where she owns Quilting Plus, a hand quilting service which employs Amish women. She has been a quilter since 1978. If you are a quilter, you won’t want to miss this MN Legacy program, or even if you just admire the finished product and have no interest in doing it yourself, you might want to attend.
Another Legacy Event program coming up on Thursday, Oct. 2, at 6:30 p.m. will feature author Annelee Woodstrom. She is an interesting speaker and if you haven’t read her books, War Child: Growing up in Adolf Hitler’s Germany and Empty Chairs, you definitely should. Watch for more information in October.
Book Club resumes on  Tuesday, September 9, at 7 p.m. with Meet Me at Emotional Baggage Claim by Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Serritella. Everyone is welcome - we always have a good discussion, but if you want to just listen, that’s okay too.
Writers’ group will resume Thursday, Sept. 25, at 7:30, Mom to Mom time on Tuesday, Sept.  23 (topic: in-laws), and Family Fun Time will be each Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.  There seems to be something here for everyone.

August at the Library

It’s August and I guess one could say we’re in the dog days of summer, although by the end of the month we’ll be counting down to fall. Appropriately, at the Fosston Library, the summer reading program, Paws to Read, continues through the month. There is still time for kids to get their reading logs completed and be eligible for the big prizes at the end of the month.
There are also a couple of extra special programs still to come. On Wednesday, August 13, at 2 p.m. we will PAWS for magic, with Professor Marvel’s Amazing Aussie Adventure. Professor Marvel has been here in previous years and presents a different show every time. They all combine magic and books, however, and your children won’t want to miss his performance.
On Wednesday, August 20, also at 2 p.m., children are invited to PAWS for a swim with a pool party at the Fosston Civic Center. A signed permission slip is required - you may call the library for more information. (435-1320)
There is still time to enter the PAWS to Read photo contest which is for all ages. Take a picture of your pet reading or being read to and submit it either electronically or as a printed picture. There haven’t been many entries yet, so you have a good chance of winning.
If you feel in need of some more instruction in using the computer, remember you can  receive free individualized training at the library by appointment (435-1320). Topics available are Get to Know Your Computer, Internet Basics and Searching with Google, Basic E-mail, Microsoft Word, Social Networking with Facebook, and Using your eReader with Overdrive.
I’m hearing that there will be a remodeling project coming up at the Fosston Community Library Arts Center involving the bathrooms in the basement. Hopefully this will happen; it’s badly needed. Stay tuned for more developments.
One last reminder - Labor Day comes early this year, September 1, and, as always, the library will be closed  for the day.

July is coming...

July is probably tied for June as my favorite month. Unfortunately, once we’re past the Fourth, it seems to be a quick downhill slide to fall, so we need to make the most of summer while it’s here. Here are some suggestions to help you do just that.
At the Fosston Library, the summer reading program for kids, Paws to Read, continues. Toddlers through teens can still sign up, read some books and attend some special programs, and be eligible for some great prizes. Programs still coming up include PAWS for balloon critters on July 9, PAWS for a quick snack with Cheryl Winkelmann on July 16, PAWS for pets with the Prairie Pet Clinic on July 23, PAWS for a plush pet picnic & sleepover on July 30, and PAWS to study tracks with staff from Itasca State Park on August 6.  All programs are at 2 p.m. To clarify the details for the July 30th program, children and their stuffed animals will come for the picnic on the library lawn, but only the stuffed animals will spend the night at the library where they will have their pictures taken enjoying the sleepover. All children are expected to return home and sleep in their own beds.
Kids and adults alike are invited to enter the PAWS to read photo contest. Take a picture of your favorite pet reading or (more likely) being read to. It can be a dog or a cat, a ferret or a pet chipmunk, maybe even a goldfish, although since goldfish don’t have paws maybe you need to check with Tammi on that. You may submit a printed photo or email the digital file to Fosston@larl.org
Coming up at the Fosston Community Library Arts Center at the end of the month is something we all are waiting for: The Fosston Community Theater ‘s summer comedy production of The Money in Uncle George’s Suitcase. The play is described as “a hilarious farce of sneaking, wrestling and getting stuck in the furniture” at Uncle George’s rustic cabin as George’s family members search for a suitcase filled with money. Michelle Marx will direct. Dates and times are Thursday through Saturday, July 31-August 2 at 7 p.m. with a 3 p.m. matinee on Sunday, August 3. Advance tickets will be on sale at Generations clothing store in Fosston.
As you would expect, the library will be closed July 4 in observance of Independence Day.

June Is Here

June is here, and our world has been transformed - green grass, leaves on the trees, colorful flowers and warm temperatures. At the Fosston Community Library Arts Center, it’s all about paws. as the 2014 summer reading program, “Paws to Read,” kicked off with a party on Wednesday, June 4. Kids of all ages are invited to pick up a reading log and register for door prizes. Every child who reads or attends a library program on 20 separate days between  June 1 and August 31 will receive a prize and will be eligible for additional prize drawings. Teens have a separate program requiring 15 books to win a prize. Also for teens are a teen trivia contest and anytime crafts.  There will be special programs each Wednesday at 2 p.m.
On June 11, Ben Carlsen will be there along with Black Lab puppy, Wenzel, for “PAWS for service dogs.“ Ben and his wife Pia are volunteer puppy raisers for Leader Dogs for the Blind. They live in Thief River Falls.
The program on June 18 is entitled “PAWS to Create Art.” A teacher from the MN Textile Center will bring lots of different kinds of animal furs that are used in making a variety of things from clothing to art.  Children will get to make a colorful piece of felted art to take home.
Cheryl Winkelman will be at the library on Wednesday, June 25, with PAWS for Craft Time. I don’t know exactly what she’ll be doing, but she always comes up with some fun projects.
Staff from the Rydell National Wildlife Refuge will be at the library on July 2 with PAWS for Wildlife Safety.
Also in conjunction with the  summer reading program, there will be a PAWS to read photo contest. Children, teens and adults are all invited to submit a picture of their favorite pet reading or being read to. You may submit a printed photo or e-mail the digital file. One entry per person, please. There will be prizes.
Not part of the summer reading program, but a special opportunity nonetheless, is an appearance by Ozzie Tollefson on Saturday, June 21, at 1 p.m. Tollefson, originally from the Fosston area, spent 48 years in education, teaching and presenting educational assemblies. He will be signing his book, Mr. Teacher,a novel about a young schoolteacher in northern Minnesota during the final year of WWII.
While you’re at the library, be sure to take a look at the current display in the Sorenson Gallery, where you will find cloudscapes by photographer Lance Thorn.

May at the Arts Center

May has arrived - can spring be far behind? Actually, last year at this time I think we were still waiting for the snow to melt so maybe we’re ahead of the game.
However, despite the weather, May is music season at the Fosston Community Library Arts Center. Orland Aspen’s vocal students presented their recital on Sunday, May 4, and my piano students will have their recital on Sunday, May 11, at 7 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend,  there will be refreshments, it’s free, and I promise it will be over in less than an hour.
The library book club meets Tuesday, May 13, also at 7 p.m. This month’s  selection is The Postmistress by Sarah Blake. The book is set in the early days of World War II and shifts between American and Europe. If you enjoy reading about that period, you’ll want to pick this up. We always enjoy our discussions.
Family Fun Time continues to be held at the library on Wednesdays at 3:30 p.m. After some Mother’s Day crafts the first Wednesday of the month, plans are for some outdoor activities the rest of the month, weather permitting, of course.
The Festival of Tables held in April was once again a huge success. To see pictures, go to the fclaa blog.
Because of declining attendance, writers’ group will no longer meet. If there is any interest, it may resume in the fall.
Here’s the poem I wrote for our last meeting:

Maybe I’ll Write a Poem
If I could write a poem about spring,
Would it make me feel it were here?
Would I see a flock of robins out there
Instead of those hungry deer?
Would icicles on the picnic table
Magically all melt away?
Instead of white snow would I see green grass?
At least that’s what I will say.
I’d like to replace the biting north wind
For now with a southerly breeze.
By writing of flowers would I forget
That daily I’m ready to freeze?
Ah, spring, what a lovely season it is!
We know it will come here some day,
Not just in my poem, but actually,
At least by the end of May.

Just a reminder - the library will be closed on May 26 for Memorial Day.

Ric Sorenson display

Here is a sample of some of the work by Ric Sorenson, currently on exhibit at the Sorenson Gallery. There will be a special Celebration of the Arts on Saturday, April 26, from 4-6 p.m. with hors d'oeuvres and carrot cake. In addition to viewing the art of Ric Sorenson in the gallery, those in attendance will be able to see works by some of his former students in the upper gallery.

Festival of Tables

Art and Fun by Hannah and Teegan Noel

Camouflage Conglomeration by Terisa, Trevor and Tanner Vig

Shabby Chic Country Garden Wedding Affair by Carrie Nephew

Twelve in Twelve by Twelve Crazy Ladies

Beautiful Basic Brown by Gerry LaVoi

Salt & Pepper by Dorothy Killian, Gloria Steinbrenner & Mary Steinbrenner

Fosston Trivia by Bonnie Stewart and Laurel Skala

Best Friends by Grace Rue and Marian Riveland

Paws to Read by Tammi Jalowiec, Librarian, Fosston Public Library

Blissful Bride Wedding by Meghan Palubicki, The Red Poppy

French Country Farmhouse by Carol Danielson

Bohemian Rhapsody by Michelle Johnson

Red Wing Poetry by Jan Hanson

Bright & Cheerful: Poetry of Spring by Katlyn, Sydney, Mitzi and Marlys Balstad

Once again, the Festival of Tables was a successful fundraiser for the Fosston Community Library Arts Association and an enjoyable event for all who attended. 

Ah, April!

Ah, April! What a welcome thought after a long, cold winter! And if the long, cold winter seems to be continuing, there are plenty of activities scheduled at the Fosston Community Library Arts Center to take your mind off the less-than-spring like weather.
A sure sign of spring is the annual Festival of Tables, held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church as a fund-raiser for the FCLAA.  There will be beautifully set tables, a delicious lunch, and lots of door prizes. You best  buy your tickets in advance, as it’s usually a sell-out.  Call Kim Wilson (435-6753), Keri Mireault (218-230-5062) or the Fosston Library (435-1320).
On Sunday, April 27, at 3 p.m. (Surely it will be spring by then.), there will be a unique concert at the arts center, featuring Lauren Pelon. A vocalist and a performer on multiple instruments, Pelon will trace the story of music, performing music from around the  world. Instruments she plays include arch lute, lyre, gemshorn, schrierpfeife, concertina, hurdy-gurdy, eagle bone flute, and many more. This concert is co-sponsored by the FCLAA and Northern Exposure to Lifelong Learning.
A very special exhibit currently on display in the Sorenson Gallery features works by Ric Sorenson, longtime Fosston art teacher and FCLAA board member who passed away last October. The show will be up through the end of May with a reception the evening of April 26. Toward the end of the month, there will be a display in the upper gallery with work created by some of Sorenson’s former students.
April 6-12 has been designated as the Week of the Young Child. In observance of that, children attending story time on April 9 and 11 will each receive a free book.
The Mom to Mom group will be meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22, to try some Zumba. That should be fun!
Fosston librarian Tammi Jalowiec plans to have a table at the health fair scheduled for April 17 at the high school. If you’re there, be sure to stop and say hello and find out what’s new at the Fosston Library.
Book club will meet Tuesday, April 8, at 7 p.m. (The Yada Yada Prayer Group - Neta Jackson) and writers’ group will meet on Thursday, April 24, at 7:30 p.m.
Looking ahead to May, Orland Aspen’s vocal students will present their spring recital on Sunday, May 4. The snow should be gone by then.

March at the Fosston Library Arts Center

The calendar is turning to March. Will that make a difference in the weather? Here’s hoping so; everyone I know is more than ready for spring. Last year at this time I could see a 10-foot icicle out my window. This winter has been too cold to even make icicles. However, the Fosston Community Library Arts Center continues to bring opportunities to distract ourselves from the cold weather.
You’ll be seeing a new face at the library as Erwin Rud will be helping out under the Experience Works program. A Fosston native, Rud lived and worked in the Twin Cities and Rochester areas for a number of years, returning to Fosston in 2007. He has a varied work experience in his past  - retail, health care, janitorial, and maybe a few other things as well.
The library staff is looking forward to his help.
There are several events scheduled for the month, including a program by Robert Halbrook, called “The Magic of Dr. Seuss,” on Friday, March 21, at 145 p.m.; a Mom to Mom program on crock-pot freezer meals on Thursday, March 6, at 6:30 p.m.; book club on Tuesday, March 11, at 7 p.m. discussing The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce; Fosston writers’ group on Thursday, March 27; and the third grade musical on Thursday and Friday, March 13 and 14, 7 p.m. both nights.
The Hot Reads for Cold Nights adult reading program continues through the month of March. It’s not too late for you to read or listen to four books and qualify for the prize drawing.
Also during the month of March the Food for Fines campaign will be in force. Bring in a non-perishable, non-expired food item and have $2 waived from your library fine. Food items will go to the local food shelf.
Coming up some time this month will be a new display in the Sorenson Gallery of works by Ric Sorenson. Watch for more information on this later.
Looking ahead to April, the annual Festival of Tables is scheduled for Saturday, April 12. Put it on your calendar.
If you have ideas, suggestions, complaints about what you might like to see done by the FCLAA, you may want to contact any of the current board members, so here is a list: Keri Mireault, Scott Wilson, Bonnie Stewart, Orland Aspen, Wonell Miller, Becky Overmoe, Jeanne Rains, Sarah Steinbrenner, Bernadette Sorenson, Sandy Johnson and Ray Miller. Or you may just want to thanks them for their service.

Writers' Group

This is how I've been feeling for the last couple months - although now the weather may be about to change.

I’m Dreaming of Some Warm Weather (with apologies to Irving Berlin)

The snow is falling
The ground is white
It’s been so many a week.
The southland we may seek,
But it’s January, the twenty fourth,
And winter goes on here in the north.

I’m dreaming of some warm weather,
Just like we’ve had in summers past,
Where the treetops blossom
And children frolic, so glad for the swim season to last.

We need parkas, boots and mittens,
Scarves, vests for the kittens.
To survive the polar vortex,
We made sure to wear our Gore-Tex.
To plow snow we need a tractor;
Don’t forget the wind chill factor.

I’m dreaming of some warm weather
With every snowflake that I see.
May your days be merry and bright
And  every evening long and filled with light.
                                        ---Kay Carlsen

February happenings

February is here - I don’t know if that means we’ve turned the corner and will be soon leaving this frigid and snowy weather behind, but we can always hope so.
However, I do know there is an exciting event coming up at the Fosston Community Library Arts Center - Kid Jam will be held on Friday, February 14, beginning at 7 p.m. Twenty-four of Eric Olson’s guitar and drum students will be performing in five different bands for this event: Triple S, Boys n Black, Skittle Dragons, Backwoods Boys, and one more yet to be named.
Instrumentation includes guitar, bass, and drums, plus something electronic called DJ/Beat Creation, apparently done on a I pad. Musical styles include country, classic rock and pop. Three of these bands performed nine shows last year in schools, coffee shops, community centers, and other venues. If you’re looking for a new and different way to celebrate Valentine’s Day, this just might be it.
The appropriately-named “Hot Reads for Cold Nights” adult winter reading program continues.  There are weekly prize drawings - for every four books you read or listen to, you have a chance to win and what better way to spend a winter evening than curling up in the recliner with a good book and maybe a cat on your lap. The library doesn’t supply cats though, you’re on your own for that.
Make one of the books you read  Songs of Willow Frost and then plan to attend the Fosston Library Book Club in Tuesday, Feb. 11, at 7 p.m. It’s always enjoyable to discuss the book we’ve read with others and enjoy a cup of coffee (or a glass of water if you’re not a coffee drinker).
If you’re an aspiring writer, you’re welcome to join the Fosston Library Writers’ Group on Thursday, Feb. 27, at 7:30 p.m. You may come even if you haven’t yet written a line. Who knows, this just might be the inspiration you’re seeking.
One last little reminder - the library will be closed in Monday, Feb. 17, in observation of Presidents Day.

Tim Lamey photographs

Landscape photographs by Tim Lamey are currently on display in the Sorenson Gallery

January 2014

It’s January 2014 – with the temperature in the 20 below range again this morning,as it seemed to be for most of December too. I saw deer tracks on the sidewalk near my house, so perhaps Bambi is already looking for food in town. (Unless Rudolph got lost on Christmas Eve and is still wandering around.) At any rate, “Hot Reads for Cold Nights,” the adult winter reading program which begin on January 2 at the Fosston Library, seems quite appropriate. Sign up now, read four books or listen to four audio books, and you have a chance to win one of the weekly prizes. The program will continue through March, and hopefully by April the cold nights will be over.

While you are at the library signing up for the Hot Reads program and checking out your books, take a few moments to visit the Sorenson Gallery and see the current display of fine art photography by Tim Lamey. There are scenes from Minnesota, North Dakota, and even from Ireland, all very well done.

If you’ve always wanted to know more about the workings of the Fosston Community Library Arts Association, here’s your chance. The FCLAA annual meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 8, at 7 p.m. at the Sorenson Gallery. It’s open to all members and prospective members, too. Refreshments will be served.

If you’re a mom with young children, here’s an opportunity for you. A Mom to Mom group will be meeting the second Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the library. The program for this first meeting, which will be on Thursday, Jan. 9, will be presented by Terri Lundell. It’s a chance for mothers to leave the kiddies at home and connect with other moms. For more information, call the library at 435-1320.

Book club meets Tuesday, Jan 14, at 7 p.m. This month’s selection is A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon. Even if we don’t always like every book we read, we always enjoy the discussion – and the coffee – and usually some goodies, too. Make plans to join the group now in the new year.

Another group you are welcome to join, especially if your New Year’s resolutions included finally getting started on that memoir you plan to write, is the Fosston Writer’s group. The next meeting is Thursday, Jan. 23, at 7:30 p.m. If you think you may be interested, you may just show up, with or without a sample of your writing.

One last reminder – the library will be closed on Monday, January 20, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.