'Tis the Season

Once again it is December – winter, snow, Christmas, and some special activities at the Fosston Community Library Arts Center. The new exhibit at the Sorenson Gallery is by local photographer Marc Lindgren. The display includes colorful photographs from a trip to Cuba a few years ago and a video of Marc’s travels. Stop in and see it during library hours through December. On Thursday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. there will be a virtual event featuring authors Sarah Stonich and Jess Lourey. The interactive format invites readers to an authors’ salon where they can ask questions about writing life. Lourey’s latest book, Litani,is a domestic suspense novel exploring the satanic panic that swept Minnesota in the 1980s, and Stonich’s Reeling is a sequel to her bestseller, Fishing! To access this event, go to the LARL Website at larl.org. Preschool storytime continues to be offered at the library at 10:30 on Fridays, and Kids Club with games, bingo, crafts, and Legos meets on Wednesdays at 3:30, although on Dec. 22, an early-out day at school, kids can head to the library as soon as school is out. Although the library writers’ group was a casualty of the pandemic and now longer meets, here is a poem I wrote for it a few years ago: ‘Tis the Season It’s here, it’s here, at last it’s here - That special season of the year. Black Friday shoppers line up early, Racing for bargains hurly-burly. The turkey’s eaten, we’ve had our naps, In the stores, we’ll do our laps, Hoping to find that perfect gift At a price that appeals to our thrift. Christmas music fills the airways. Garlands of green cascade down the stairways. Christmas trees are up and lighted. Santas galore will be sighted. Christmas shopping season’s come, Buy this, buy that, don’t be a bum. What all this means, I do not know, But something happened long ago, A wondrous birth we should remember Celebrated in December. Holiday closings: December 24 – The library closes at 12 noon and will be closed Christmas Day. December 31 – The library closes at 5 p.m. and will be closed New Years Day.

The Dark Days of November

November is here with colder weather and shorter hours of daylight. Of course, we will be going off Daylight Saving Time, so it will be lighter a little earlier in the morning for a bit, but it will be getting dark sooner, so I guess that’s a wash. However, despite the cold and darkness, the Fosston Community Library Arts Center has several exciting opportunities for you. Coming up on Sunday, Nov. 28, is the 2021 Daisy Hagen Auction for the Arts. Held every two years, this is the big fundraiser for the FCLAA. All manner of items, including baked goods, stained glass, quilts, woodworking, rosemaling, glass blowing, leather goods and more, will be auctioned off by Lynda Lohmeier beginning at 2 p.m. FCLAA volunteers will provide an appetizer and dessert buffet. There will be a silent auction as well. Items will be available for viewing beginning at 1 p.m. Somehow, I missed getting the current exhibit in the Sorenson Gallery into last month’s column, but it will be up through Nov. 17. Local artist and Fosston native Heidi Danos is displaying a nice variety of various mixed media paintings. She began working on her art in 2019. Since that time, she has had four pieces featured in exhibits sponsored by the Northwest Arts Council. Stop in at the library and look – many of her pieces are for sale. The library book club will meet Tuesday, Nov. 9, at 7 p.m. November’s selection is The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein. Written from the point of view of Enzo, a dog, the book deals with family dynamics in a custody battle between Zoe’s maternal grandparents and her father Denny, a race car driver. On Monday, Nov. 15, at 6:30 p.m. author Lorna Landvik will do an online presentation. Landvik has written several books. The most recent one is entitled Chronicles of a Radical Hag (with recipes). I have read and enjoyed some of her earlier books, and I know she’s a funny lady so I think this would be worth your time. Go to the LARL Facebook page or the LARL website for a link to the presentation. If you are seeking assistance in finding a job, going back to school, or developing a resume, help is as near as your local library. During the month of November, Jennifer Person from the Inter County Community Council will be at the Fosston Library on Mondays from 3 to 4 p.m. and on Wednesdays from 10 to 11 a.m. For more information you may contact her at 218-689-265. Just a reminder – the library will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 11, in observance of Veterans Day. It close at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 24, and will be closed on Nov. 25, which is Thanksgiving Day. Normal library hours will resume in Nov. 26.

Can it be October?

October is upon us, the month of bright blue weather, colorful leaves, and Halloween. The big news at the Fosston Community Library Arts Center is a concert by singer/songwriter Dan Rodriguez on Saturday, October 16, at 7 p.m. Originally from Michigan, Rodriguez now lives in Minneapolis with his wife and two sons, who are named Oak and Alder. His music has been featured in various ads and commercials, including the Explore Minnesota Tourism ad campaign, which used his song, “You Feel Like Home.” Tickets for the performance are available at Nord’s Drug as well as online at fclaa.org The month of October at the library will feature a chance to play blackout poetry, a form of “found poetry” where the writer selects words from a newspaper, book, or other printed text, adds a few additional words and then blacks out all the rest. Stop by the library and be given some book pages. Then bring your finished poetry to the library by the end of October to be displayed. Sounds like fun! The library book club will meet Tuesday, October 12, at 7 p.m. This month’s book is The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs. I haven’t read it yet, but it looks like a good one. Kids’ club is continuing to meet Wednesdays at 3:30 with different activities in rotation – Legos, crafts, games, and bingo. The fun continues until 5:00 p.m. For the younger children and their caregivers, preschool story time is scheduled for each Friday at 10:30 a.m. It’s a great way to introduce your child to the library. Looking ahead to November, the biannual Daisy Hagen Auction for the Arts is scheduled for Sunday, November 28 with Lynda Lohmeier as the auctioneer. Cochairs Sarah Steinbrenner and Carrie Carlin have already been busy gathering up items to be offered. One last reminder: The library will be closed Monday, Oct. 11, for staff training.

September

Fosston Community Library Arts Center, it’s time to get back to some of the normal activities, many of which have been on hold for the last year and a half. (And we all know why) September brings the return of music lessons at the library, although one of our instructors, Molly Peltier, is planning to offer lessons from her home this year. Molly teaches piano (and maybe flute if you are interested in that). Her cell number is 218-431-0848 and e-mail address is mkcrane@gmail.com. I (Kay Carlsen) will be doing some lessons at the library or on-line if you would prefer that. My phone number is 435-6710; e-mail address is aagekay@gvtel.com. String instructor Jeff Menten will be taking some vacation in September, but will be ready to resume lessons, both in-person and on-line, in October. He teaches violin, viola, cello, mandolin, upright bass, and guitar. Contact him at jeffmentenmusic@hotmail.com or 218-255-0087. If you are interested in lessons for yourself or your child, please contact the instructor directly. Also resuming in September is preschool storytime on Friday, Sept. 10, at 10:30, and afterschool kids club beginning Wednesday, Sept. 8, at 3:30 p.m. On the schedule for the first day of kids’ club will be some fun craft activities. For the adults, the library book club will meet Tuesday, Sept. 14, at 7 p.m. If you are interested, call the library at 435-1320 to request a copy of The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes. The Sorenson Gallery will be the site of the FCLAA’s annual juried art show in September. Local and regional artist will exhibit paintings, drawings, metal art and more. The gallery is open during regular library hours. On Tuesday, September 21, author Hudda Ibrahim will be discussing her book, From Somalia to Snow. She is a faculty member at St. Cloud Technical and Community College, where she teaches diversity and social justice. She will discuss why so many Somali immigrants have come to Minnesota and will share about her culture. She is appearing in person at the Detroit Lakes and Moorhead libraries, with the Moorhead presentation being live-streamed on Facebook at 6:30 p.m. Remember that the library will be closed Monday, Sept. 6, in observance of Labor Day.

And it's August!

And August is here again. This year some of you may be looking forward to the end of summer, hoping for some relief from the heat and the smoke. We don’t know for sure what the coming months will bring, but the Fosston Community Library Arts Association does have some great opportunities in the offing. Currently in the Sorenson Gallery there is a colorful display of art from the 65 children who participated in the summer arts program taught by Kirby Vossler. This exhibit will be up until August 25, and it’s well worth your time even if you need to make a special trip to the library just to see it. On Wednesday, August 11, at 7 p.m. there is a special presentation you can access from your home computer. Author Robin Wall Kimmerer will be speaking about her book Braiding Sweetgrass. In the book, the author demonstrates how other living beings, from asters to strawberries to sweetgrass offer us gifts and lessons. She brings to life the wisdom and practices of the people groups native to North America. The presentation can be accessed on the LARL Facebook page. Looking ahead to September, the library will be resuming some of its activities that have been on hold during the pandemic. Beginning the second week of September, preschool storytime will resume on Fridays at 10:30 a.m. Afterschool kids club will be held on Wednesdays from 3:30-5:00 p.m. beginning September 10. Activities will include art lessons, new games, and a new Lego challenge. For the adults, the library book club will resume meeting on Tuesday, September 14, at 7 p.m. The book to be discussed is The Giver of Stars by JoJo Moyes. If you are interested, call the library to reserve a copy of the book. The library still accepts grocery receipts from Palubicki’s as they will get a cash donation for 1 percent of the total. Receipts are acceptable only if you have paid by cash or check, however, so if you’ve used your credit card or debit card, you can just dispose of them. If you are working on your list of 60 Books for 60 Years, keep on reading. I just finished number 47 so should make 60 by the end of the year. If you aren’t sure what I’m referring to, call the library and they will explain it.

July 2021

Looking back at the July Fosston Community Library Arts Association column for July 2020, I found that the big news was that the library was now open, not just for curbside pickup, but people could come inside. Now it is July again, and things are getting back to normal, at least for the moment. Last summer, the planned outdoor concert series was virtual; this year, you will have the opportunity to attend in person. Music on the Porch, the 2021 summer concert series, will be held at the East Polk Heritage Center grounds on Thursdays in July beginning July 8. Jeff Menten and Paul Nye will be featured in that first concert. Jeff also teaches violin and guitar at the arts center. This acoustic duo plays a variety of modern and old-time classics as well as some Celtic tunes. Last year they presented a virtual concert; this year they are here in person. Other concerts include Sydney Melby (60s, 70s and 80s folk and rock) on July 15, The Occasionals (house band for the Great Northern Radio Show) on July 22, and the Jensen Sisters (New Wave Retro County) on July 29. All concerts start at 7 p.m. Bring a lawn chair or a blanket if you are up to sitting on the ground. There may be a food truck, and there will be an admission fee. The current gallery display features pottery and paintings by Janet Johnson of Rivers Edge Studio in Roseau. It is well worth your time, as there is lot to see. On Saturday, July 24, there will be a chance to meet Janet. If you are interested in purchasing one of her paintings or pottery pieces, give her a call or text at 218-242-0698 to arrange for payment The summer library experience continues through the month, so kids should keep up with those reading logs so they will be eligible for a chance at some neat prizes at the end of the month. Also, there are two more Wednesday afternoon programs scheduled in July. On Wednesday, July 14, at 2 p.m. participants can create broken pot fairy/gnome gardens. Feel free to bring your own decorations or items to share, such as broken china or crafting odds and ends. Little one will need helpers. On Wednesday, July 21, again at 2 p.m. there will be the opportunity to get a close look at some community work vehicles, including a state patrol squad car, a deputy car, a fire truck and the City of Fosston’s garbage truck. Kids (and grownups too) can see how they work and meet the people who use them. If you are needing to use the library printer, there is a new app which enables you to print from your own laptop or mobile phone. Download the app Princh from the App Store or Google Play, or you may type print.princh.com into your browser. The Printer-ID is 103513. If you do this online, you will be able to pay for your copies with a credit card. The library only accepts cash or checks.

April and paintings by Debbi Jean Aune

April this year is looking a little different than it has many times in the past. When I look out my window, I do not see any green, but there is no white snow either. I am hoping for some April showers to alleviate the drought we seem to be in, but I am not particularly good at predicting the weather. I can, however, bring your attention to some good things available at the Fosston Community Library Arts Center. Currently in the Sorenson Gallery there is a display of plein air watercolor paintings by Debbie Jean Aune, who lives in the Gatzke area with her husband Elroy. A graduate of Bemidji State University, Aune has been teaching art full-time in the Greenbush Middle River school district since 1994. There are paintings done by Debbie while on a road trip last summer to Devil’s Tower and several paintings of Northwest Minnesota grain elevators. Having lived in at least a couple of places where the grain elevator was the most impressive structure in town, I found those particularly interesting. There will be an artist’s reception for Debbie later in the month. Watch for more information. The FLCAA is moving forward for plans for its children’s summer arts and theater programs. Watch for more information on that too. While the library is still not offering in-person story time, there are weekly virtual story times now available. Your children are invited to join Kai from Moorhead or Eliza from Detroit Lakes for songs and stories streamed live on the LARL Facebook page each Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. The recording of the presentation will be available, so if you miss the 10:30 time (or your child wants to watch it again), just check that Facebook page. One Book/One Minnesota is a statewide book club that invites Minnesotans to read a common title and come together for a virtual discussion with the author. The current book is Slider by Pete Hautman. This is a novel aimed at middle-grade readers about David, who can eat an entire 16-inch pizza in four minutes and 36 seconds and plans to compete in the world’s greatest pizza eating contest. To obtain a copy of the book and to register for the virtual discussion to be held Wednesday, April 21, at 1 p.m., go the LARL website (larl.org). If you already have the Libby app on your phone, you can now borrow magazines with it as well as eBooks and audiobooks. If you don’t have it, you might want to get it. It’s the one-tap reading app from the library.

The Season Turns to Spring

Once again March is here – and the season will turn to spring. Little did I know when I wrote the column for March a year ago, that our world would be turning upside down, with closures and quarantines, and that most of the activities I mentioned would not happen. Things are now somewhat more normal; at least the library is open and has been for some time. Programing has been mostly on-line, as have concerts and theater productions sponsored by the Fosston Community Library Association. As I mentioned last month, the newest FCLAA board member is Kate Moore, who is the daughter of Cyndee Hoialmen Robison, the organization’s first president. Kate tells me she spent much of her childhood in and around the FCLAA theater and is now delighted to have a chance to serve on the board. After spending her growing up years in Fosston, Kate lived in the Twin Cities for several years, working as a CNA in nursing homes and as a home health aide. Ten and a half years ago she moved back to Fosston to care for her grandfather Sid Hoialmen until he passed away. She married Kevin Moore and they are owners of the Fosston Theater. Together they have a six-year-old son, Sage. This has been an extremely challenging year for the movie business, but having the concessions open for takeout was well received by the local population. Kate says she loves Fosston and looks forward to serving the FCLAA as a board member. The library has several activities available this month. Craft kits for adults to create fringe earrings with Sister Beads became available Feb. 22. If you are interested, check to see if there are still some available. There is an instructional video on the LARL Website. For all those aspiring poets in grades four through twelve, LARL is sponsoring an Adam Thielen poetry contest. Write a poem inspired by Adam Thielen’s football legacy. You might win an autographed Adam Thielsen football or an Adam Thielen jersey. Poems will be accepted March 1 through April 9. On Tuesday, March 9, at 7 p.m. there will be a free virtual presentation by plant expert Alan Branhagen with advice from his book The Midwest Native Plant Primer. You may access the presentation at facebook.com/larlmn/live. A recording will be available at larl.org/at home following the presentation. On Tuesday, March 23, at 7 p.m. Ross Bernstein will present “1961: A Minnesota Sprots Retrospective.” He has many stories from that year, which saw the Vikings and the Twins come to be, the Gopher football team play its last Rose Bowl, and the Minneapolis Lakers move to Los Angeles. Check the LARL Website for more information. Just a couple more things: Minnesota libraries are collecting stores demonstrating the importance of libraries in our communities. Please go to tinyurl.com/mnlibstories and to share your story. Also, Blind Date with a Book is still available so if you are not sure what to read, check it out.

February - time marches on

February – presidents, hearts and flowers, and even a groundhog. Time marches on and the Fosston Community Library Arts Association continues its mission of promoting visual, performing, and creative arts in the Fosston community and the surrounding area. At its annual meeting in January the FCLAA elected the following officers: president – Sarah Steinbrenner; vice president – Barbara Johnson; secretary – JoAnn Papke; and treasurer – Molly Peltier. Additional board members are Abby Pearson, Dawn Skeie-Crane, Maggie Stewart, and Jason Steinbrenner, as well as new board member Kate More, who is the daughter of Cyndee Hoialmen Robison, the organization’s first president. In addition, outgoing president Bonnie Stewart has been contracted to serve the FLCAA as a part-time executive director. The Art of the Dress display is now in the Sorenson Gallery. Come in and see (but don’t touch) some beautiful vintage wedding dresses. The gallery is open during normal library hours. On Tuesday, Feb. 16, at 7 p.m. there will be a virtual presentation featuring Minnesota author William Kent Krueger, who writes the Cork O’Connor mystery series set in various locales around the state. He has written several stand-alone novels as well. His last nine novels were New York Times bestsellers. Krueger did a live presentation at the Fosston Library several years ago and was very enjoyable. His topic for this presentation will be the importance of books in a world of chaos. The program will be on the LARL Facebook page, and if you miss it on Feb. 16, a recording will be available later. On-line storytime presentations are available on the Facebook page as well. Also for the little ones, “Love Monster” craft kits are available free of charge at the library on a first come-first served basis. For the adults, the Book Blizzard reading challenge continues through the end of the month. Read four books for a chance at a prize. Reading logs are available at the library or you can register on-line. Remember that the library will be closed on Presidents Day, Monday, February 15.

The Art of the Dress

Wedding fashions from years gone by:

January 2021!

2021 – a new year! Whether it is better than 2020 remains to be seen; we can only hope so. Last January no one would have predicted how the past year would unfold. Despite many challenges, the Fosston Community Library Arts Association, together with the Lake Agassiz Regional Library, continues its mission of investing in our community by fostering an environment for creative expression by bringing culture, lifelong learning and a spirit of inspiration to our community. On Wednesday, January 13, the FCLAA will hold its annual meeting at 6:30 p.m. If you are a member of the FCLAA or if you are interested in becoming one, you are welcome at attend. The FCLAA board is responsible for overseeing the various areas of programing at the arts center, in the areas of music, lectures, gallery and theater. In addition, there is a property committee. These five committees are always interested in having new members, so if you would like to be involved in the promoting the arts in our local area, you are welcome to join. This year’s meeting will be held virtually, so if you would like to attend, please e-mail hello@fclaa.org and you will be sent a link to the meeting. In library news, the winter Book Blizzard will run from January 1 – February 28. Pick up a reading log at the library or try the virtual Books Like Us Challenge at larl.org/bookblizzard . For every four books you read (or listen to) you will have a chance to win a fabulous prize. If you are going to be reading anyway, you might as well sign up. The gallery exhibit “Art of the Dress” is still on hold because of COVID-19 guidelines. Hopefully, the gallery may reopen sometime this month. Remember, if you do not feel comfortable coming into the library in person, library staff is willing to do home deliveries within Fosston city limits. Call the library at 435-1320 with your requests or simply ask the librarian to pick something out for you. Also, there are story time kits available for checkout with several different themes with both books and activities. If your little ones are missing the library story time, this is the do-it-yourself version. The FCLAA wants to thank everyone who attended the online Christmas production and gives a special thank you to director Abby Pearson, her cast and crew. Everyone has had to learn to be adaptable this past year. The library will be closed on Monday, January 18, in observance of Martin Luther King Day.