Currently in the Sorenson Gallery - Carol Danielson

July!

July – the midpoint of summer? My husband used to say that once the Fourth of July was over, school started the next week. A bit exaggerated, but our summers are fleeting. We need to enjoy them while we can. One way we can do that is to attend the Music on the Porch concerts, sponsored by the Aurora Center for the Arts. Held on the back porch of the Larson House on the East Polk Heritage grounds, the concerts are free, held each Thursday evening at 7 p.m. July 11 through August 1. If you enjoy Americana/folk-type music, it’s a pleasant way to spend an evening. Performers on the schedule include Jordan Messorole from Iowa on July 11, Scott Jasmin from Park Rapids on July 18, Doyle Turner, originally from Naytahwaush, on July 25, and Accoustofiddle (Paul Nye and Jeff Menten) on August 1. Featured artist for July in the Sorenson Gallery is Carol Danielson of Fosston. Here’s what has been written about her: “Encouraged at a young age by her teacher to continue her drawings, by a friend who introduced her to a watercolor class, and by her family to transform the chicken coop of their farm into an art studio, Carol has continued throughout her life in her passion for art.” Stop by during library hours to view her paintings. Speaking of the Fosston Library, the summer reading experience, Explore!, continues through the month. There is still timefor children and teens to pick up a reading log and do enough reading to qualify for the prize drawings at the end of the month. There are also a couple of related activities. During the week of July 8-13, children and teens are invited to pick up a free take-and-make Minne-Mural poster. Then on Thursday, July 18, award-winning cartoonist Rick Stromoski will be live-streamed at the library for an outer space drawing class and watch party from 2:00-3:00 p.m. If you are looking for bargains, the library continues to have an on-going book sale. Nothing is over a dollar, and we can all agree, there isn’t much we can buy at those prices anymore. Of course, the library itself is the biggest bargain of all. With a library card, which is free, you can have access to thousands of books and DVDs for no charge (unless you fail to return them, of course.)

Just Because It's June

Just because it’s June (to quote the Rogers and Hammerstein song), activities are busting out all over at the Aurora Center for the Arts and the Fosston library. Music on the Porch, the summer concert series sponsored by the Aurora Center and held at the East Polk Heritage grounds, returns beginning Thursday, June 20, with free concerts every Thursday evening at 7 p.m. through August 1. Mark Fogelson opens the series with acoustic folk-style music and Dan Rodriguez will be here on June 27. Rodriguez has played in Fosston several times and is a crowd favorite. Bring your own chair or come early enough to get a spot at one of the picnic tables under the shelter. Summer youth art classes in the basement of the Aurora Center have already begun but there are still a few openings for students ages nine through twelve. Contact Kirby Vossler at Kirby.vossler@gmail.com Meanwhile at the library, the summer reading experience, Explore!, is just getting started. Children and youth are invited to read to win great prices and explore outer space with lots of fun events at the library. Pick up a reading log at the library to get started. The first special program is Wednesday, June 5, with a free screening of the children’s film, “Home,” at 2 p.m. at the Fosston Movie Theater. Admission is free, but if you want popcorn (or any other treat,) you will need to pay for it. On Wednesday, June 12, also at 2 p.m., a naturalist from Itasca State Park will help kids explore star stories found in the night ski. I guess everyone will need to go out after dark to see them. However, on Friday, June 21, there will be an opportunity to see what the night ski looks like with the Star Lab! The program is free, but registration is required. There will be two sessions – one at 1:30 and one at 2:15. This presentation is geared towards youth five and up. On Friday, June 28, magician Magic Bob will present a magic show, Lost in Space, at 2:00 p.m. Suggested ages are three through ten, although I suspect some of us who are over ten might enjoy it too. On Monday and Tuesday, July 1-2, there will be a opportunity for kids to create a book bag to take home. Supplies are provided. Kids under eight must be accompanied by a caregiver. Come either day, but maybe not both times so that everyone who wants to make a bag will have the opportunity.

Looking ahead to May

Even though it’s been a mild winter, I’m still looking forward to May – green grass, tulips and daffodils, and leaves on the trees. At the Aurora Center for the Arts and the Fosston library, there are other things to look forward to as well. There will be music in the air on Sunday, May 12, at 3 p.m. when Kay Carlsen’s piano students and Jeff Menten’s guitar and string students present their annual recital. This event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. At the Sorenson Gallery, the May exhibit will feature photographs by Monika Lawrence in “Heritage Through Image” sponsored by the East Polk County Heritage Center. The display highlights 11 individuals captured taking part in their craft, interests and passion for the history and culture of our region. Come and see who you recognize. The Gallery is open during library hours and during the music recital. At the library, on Tuesday, May 7, at 2 p.m., there will be an author visit by Candace Simar, a Minnesota poet and author from Pequot Lakes, who has written several historical novels set in Minnesota. She will discuss her latest novel, Sister Lumberjack, which is set in the northern Minnesota forests. Book club for May will follow a slightly different format in that instead of everyone reading the same book, participants are asked to pick a book with a summer theme. (Check with your friendly local librarian for suggestions.) There will be conversation, coffee, and goodies, and it hopefully won’t be too reminiscent of oral books reports in school. You may come on Tuesday, May 14, at 7 p.m. or Tuesday, May 21, at 2 p.m. You could even attend both sessions if you wish – there will be different books discussed. Preschool storytime will continue through Monday, May 13. There will be a break through the month of June. Watch for storytime to resume sometime during the month of July. The Summer Library Experience, “Explore!” will begin June 1. Kids of all ages will be able to read to win great prizes and explore outer space with events at the library. The first program will be Wednesday, June 5, at 2 p.m. Held at the Fosston movie theater, the children’s film “Home” will be shown. Admission is free, although concessions are not. One last reminder: the library will be closed on Monday, May 27, in observance of Memorial Day.