Hello, February!

It's always kind of a relief when February comes because then I feel we are on the downhill slope of winter. I realize that this year February has 29 days, but even so it's our shortest month, and March is almost spring.

The Fosston Community Library Arts Association elected two new members to the board of directors at its annual meeting on January 13. They were Jeff Olson and Barb Johnson. In addition, Orland Aspen was reelected to a one-year term. New officers were also elected for the coming year: Bonnie Stewart, president; Michelle Johnson, vice president; Becky Overmoe, secretary; and Molly Peltier, treasurer.

Jeff Olson, who calls Fosston his hometown, is a blacksmith/artist, specializing in decorative ornamental sculptures and jewelry. After graduating from Fosson High School in 1985, he joined the Air Force and lived in various places, including a stint as a civilian contractor in Iraq before moving back to Fosston in 2009 and beginning Olson Ironworks. Thanks to the Internet, he has customers for his one-of-a-kind custom-made items all over the United States and even internationally. Olson's wife Traci is a teacher at the Fosston elementary school. He has two grown children, one living in Fosston and one in Ohio, as well as one granddaughter. In joining the FCLAA board, he hopes to promote local artists by providing venues to showcase their work. If you wish see some of his creations, go to olsonironworks.com.

While you are on the Internet looking at Jeff Olson's art (in addition to his Web site, he has a blog and also a Facebook page), check out the Fosston Public Library Facebook page and give it a like.

The Hot Reads for Cold Nights adult reading program continues through February so there is still plenty of time to win a prize for reading (or listening to) four books. That's certainly a win-win situation: You get the pleasure of reading the book and maybe a prize as well. You can pick up entry blanks at the library or enter on-line on the LARL Web site.

Make one of the books you read The Round House by Louise Erdrich, which is the library book club selection for February. We will meet to discuss it on Tuesday, February 9, at 7 p.m. Erdrich is an award-winning author, originally from North Dakota, but now living in Minnesota. The Round House is set in North Dakota, in a community where “Ojibwe and while live uneasily together.” Our discussions at book club are always interesting, and did I mention there will be coffee?

Writers' group will meet Thursday, February 25, at 7:30 p.m. New members are always welcome with or without samples of their writing.

One last reminder – the library will be closed on Monday, February 15, in observance of Presidents Day.