Community Events

August

Hope Lutheran Church of Sunburg invites everyone to their ice cream social and supper on Sunday, Aug. 15th. Supper will be served from 5-6:30 and consists of BBQs, beans, chips, and a variety of pies with ice cream. The Cross Creek Bluegrass Band will entertain in the sanctuary at 6:45.

The featured art for this year’s ‘Celebrate Art! Celebrate Coffee!’ poster will be unveiled at the Barn Theatre Thursday morning, Aug. 5th at 11:30 at a public reception honoring Kay Strand, a well known Willmar artist. She has created the original oil painting that will be one of the coveted raffle prizes.

You are invited to an ice cream social at the NordlandmLutheran Church, rural Paynesville, on Wednesday, Aug. 11th with serving from 4-7:30. The menu is hot dogs, potato salad, baked beans, homemade pies and cakes, ice cream, lemonade, coffee and milk. Free will donation.

You’re asked to donate blood at the Bellingham Bloodmobile Friday, Aug. 13th from eight to one at the city hall. If you have Type O, A or B negative you may be eligible to donate double red cells that day. For more information or to make an appointment for double red cell donation, call 320-568-2385. all other donors can walk in and donate at their convenience. The goal is 35 units.

There will be a city-wide Community Oriented Policing and Problem Solving meeting on Tuesday night, Aug. 3rd at seven in the conference room at the Willmar Fire Department. Starting with this meeting there will no longer be individual ward meetings. There will only be one city-wide meeting each month, on the first Tuesday o feach month at the fire department.

There will be a 10th anniversary Old Fashioned hymn sing at the First Covenant Church in Willmar on Sunday night, Aug. 8th at six. The leader is Chuck Gustafson; organist Don Franklin; pianist Saralyn Olson; violinist Christopher Franklin; and soloist, Rossella Franklin. It will be an evening of singing favorite hymns. Christopher conducts orchestras in the United States and Europe and Rossella sings in European operas.

The Footprints Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support Group will meet Tuesday night, Aug. 3rd from 7-8 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Willmar. If you have questions or want more information call Janelle Hansen at 979-6632.

Douglas Wood will present an Earthsong concert Saturday night, Aug. 7th at seven at Sibley State Park’s Interpretive Center. This program is part of the ‘Outdoors Extra’ series that aims to get people outdoors-especially family with young children- by offering new things to see and do at Minnesota State Parks, trails and recreation areas this summer. The events are free but a vehicle permit is necessary. Call 354-2055 for more info.

There will be a Steven (Rhubarb) Romose benefit Saturday, Aug. 7th from 4-7 at the Willmar VFW. Romose was diagnosed with Stage 4 Small Cell Lung Carcinoma in May. There will be a silent auction, prize tickets will be sold and a freewill donation dinner from 4-7. Scotty’s Show is at 8:30. Proceeds will be used to help cover the rising expenses related to his fight against cancer.

There will be a St. John hog roast at the community center in Atwater on Friday, Aug. 27th from 5-8. The menu is BBQ pork, buns, potato salad, baked beans, cole slaw, applesauce, ice cream and beverages. Adults $8 and kids 4-12 $5.

Two time Grammy award winner Larry Ford of the Gaithers; The Gaither Vocal Band; Tribute to James Blackwood, will be in concert at the Assembly of God Church in Willmar Sunday night, Aug. 8th at 6:30. All are welcome.

The American Red Cross will have a couple of blood drives in Kandiyohi County this month. The first is on August 9th from 1-7 at the Assembly of God Church in Willmar, and the second is August 11th from 1-7 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Raymond. All are welcome.

Meeker County residents have three blood drives to choose from this month. The first is at the Covenant Church in Dassel on Aug. 16th from 1-7. The second is Aug. 18th from 1-7 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Eden Valley. The third is Aug. 19th from 1-7 at the Zion Lutheran Church in Litchfield.

There are four blood drives going on in Renville County. There’s one on Aug. 16th from 1-7 at the St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Olivia; another on Aug. 17th from 1-7 at the Prairie Lutheran School in Fairfax, another on Aug. 18th from 1-7 at the community Center in Renville, and a fourth Aug. 19th from 1-7 at the American Legion in Hector.

Alexandria Community Education is presenting ‘Actor’s Tool Box’ August 16th through the 19th from nine to noon at the Discovery Middle School. You’ll learn skills to build on your acting abilities. The class will include learning about monologues, improvisation, developing characters, emotions, movement, gestures, projecting voice and more. Bring a snack each day. Call Community Education at (320) 762-3310 to register.

Alexandria Community Education & Young Rembrandts present “Pastel Drawing Camp-More Magnificent Masters” for youth in grades 5-7, focusing on three different artists. The class is Aug. 16th through the 19th from nine to noon at the Discovery Middle School. You’ll create an original pastel drawing replicating a famous artist’s masterpiece, draw a colorful goldfish bowl, and create powerful still life full of robust color. Each day will challenge youth with the pastel media. Wear an old t-shirt or art smock and bring a snack. Call Community Education at (320) 762-3310 to register.

Learn about Minnesota’s state symbols Monday morning, Aug. 2nd at ten at Sibley State Park. At two that afternoon learn about bats. On August 3rd at ten hear the Mt. Tom Story and at two the program is about dragonflies. On August 4th at ten explore the Bald Eagles of Sibley and at two, learn about the amphibians in the park. Call 354-2055 for more information.

Try your hand at catching fish Thursday morning, Aug. 5th from ten to noon at Sibley State Park. First there’s a 60 minute presentation at the interpretive center on fishing safety, identification, equipment, local and how to fish. After that you’ll go fishing on Lake Andrew. All fishing equipment and bait will be provided. Kids must be accompanied by an adult. That afternoon at two learn about mammals of Sibley. Call 354-2055 for more info.

It’s a high tech treasure hunt at Sibley State Park on Friday morning, Aug. 6th at ten. That afternoon, at two, there’s a program on the snakes of Sibley. Saturday morning at ten its ‘Wet and Wild Bugs’ and ‘Prairie Wildflowers identification and use. At two it’s the high teach treasure hunt, and at seven that nights its Doug Wood’s Earthsong Concert. On Sunday morning, Aug. 8th at 11 there’s a kids program on fish features and facts. Call 354-2055 for more information.