Children's summer art classes

The Fourth is Nearly Here

The Fourth of July is nearly here, and while I hate to bring this up, once that is past, we are on the downhill slope towards the end of summer. We better enjoy the season while it’s still here, so plan to spend your Thursday evenings listening to some great music in a pleasant outdoor venue. Aurora Center for the Arts’ free Music on the Porch concert series continues through the month of July at the East Polk Heritage Center. Caleigh, a northern Minnesota trio, will be playing on July 10, Acoustofiddle (Paul Nye and Jeff Menten) are on stage on July 17, there will be a theater revue on July 24, and Doyle Turner and Sarah Morris perform on July 31. All concerts begin at 7 p.m. You can bring snacks and beverages if you wish – chairs too or sit at the picnic tables. Currently on display in the Sorenson Gallery there is artwork from the children's summer art classes taught by Kirby Vossler. You may visit the gallery during library hours. Kirby Vossler is a busy person. She will also be directing a cast of 23 third through sixth graders in “Space Pirates: A New Children’s Musical.” Rehearsals begin in July with performances scheduled for August 6-9. The show follows a group of Earth kids who find themselves transported to a spaceship full of aliens obsessed with Earth’s artifacts. When space pirates show up to ransack the ship, the kids help to save the day. Tickets will be available in late July. Meanwhile at the Fosston Library, the summer reading experience, Wild about Reading, continues through the month of July. Reading logs must be returned the first week of August to qualify for the prize drawings. There is still time to get that reading done. Prairie Public’s Learning Express trailer will be at the library July 14-18. The trailer is packed with resource bins filled with kits, games and activities that families can use during library hours. An adult must be present to supervise children while bins are in use. And of course, the library will be closed on Friday, July 4, Independence Day. It will, however, be open on Saturday, July 5, even though that seems to be the day for the festivities in Fosston.

Rick Paulin paintings

June, June, June

As the song says, “June is busting out all over,” and at the Aurora Center for the Arts, all sorts of fun activities are busting out as well, so much so that some are busting into other locations. The Aurora Center is once again sponsoring the Music on the Porch concert series on Thursday evenings at the East Polk Heritage Center. These free concerts begin at 7 p.m. You may want to bring your own chair although some seating is available at the picnic tables under the shelter. The first concert is June 19 with The WoodPicks, From Thief River Falls, this talented group plays gospel, bluegrass, country and Americana music. They should be a great choice to kick off the season. There will be no concert on June 26, as that is when “Alice in Wonderland, Jr.” will be presented at the Aurora Center, directed by Abby Pearson and featuring 20 high school-aged actors. Tickets will be available soon at Nords Pharmacy and Gifts and online at auroracenterforthearts.org Kirby Voesler will be teaching several summer rec art classes for kids ages five through twelve. These will be held in the art area of the Aurora basement. For adults there will be a couple of opportunities at the Old School Artist Retreat Center in Lengby; Leatherwork with Janette McColl on Saturday, June 21, 9a.m.-5p.m., and Hard Cover Journal with Mike McColl on Monday and Tuesday, June 23-24, 7-8:30 p.m. There is a fee charged for these classes. To sign up online, go to bit.ly/AuroraArtClass or for more information, e-mail hello@auroracenterforthearts.org Meanwhile, at the Fosston Public Library, Wild about Reading, the 2025 summer reading program, began on June 1. Children and teens are invited to pick up a reading log to be eligible for some great prizes at the end of the summer. In addition, there are several free programs, all on Wednesdays at 2 p.m., starting June 4 with Bemidji Headwater’s Science Center staff and some of their animals. Learn about animals’ habitats, defenses, adaptations, and proper handling. June 11 is Wild about Wheels. Kids are invited to get a close look at some community work vehicles. The June 18 program is at the Fosston Movie Theater. Admission is free for a showing of The Lion King. (But concession charges are the responsibility of the attendees. On June 25, a park naturalist from Itasca State Park will present Let’s Get Wild with Animal Signs. What signs do wild animals leave behind? July 2 Dazzling Dave Yo-Yo Master will be at the library to share his expertise with the yo-yo. Perhaps he will inspire your kids (or yourself) to give it a try.

It's May

It’s May. That means green grass, singing birds, and music at the Aurora Center for the Arts. On Sunday, May 11, Jeff Menten’s guitar and string students, along with my piano students, will present their yearly recital. Everyone is welcome to attend the 3 p.m. program with refreshments served. This is a free event. On Saturday, May 17, or in Norwegian Syttende Mai, Project Constellation, a violin/guitar due from Grand Forks, will be playing Scandinavian music at 2:00 p.m. Norwegian goodies will be served in the lobby beginning at 1 p.m. This free event is sponsored by the East Polk Heritage Center and the Sons of Norway Granlund Lodge. The new exhibit in the Sorenson Gallery, coming up in May, will be watercolors by Crookston artist Ross Hier. He retired from the Minnesota DNR in 2016 but has been doing art all his life. His subject matter ranges from landscapes to sporting scenes to birdlife. Tryouts for the high school summer musical, “Disney’s Alice in Wonderland,” directed by Abby Pearson, were scheduled to be held Tuesday, May 6. Performances will be held June 25-28. Kirby Vossler will be directing “Space Pirates” during July and August for students in grades 3-6. Also, there will be a week-long summer theater camp for students aged 7-14, held August 18-22. Further information may be found in the summer rec packets or at auroracenterforthearts.org. Meanwhile, at the Fosston Library, book club will meet Tuesday, May 20, at 2 p.m. for coffee, treats, and conversation. This month’s book is All We Were Promised by Ashton Lattimore. This will be the final session before summer break. Also, the Family Resource Center is up and running in the library basement. Open on Wednesdays from noon to 5 p.m., this one-stop shop provides a place for area families to connect with different services , including economic assistance, child support, and Career Force. All services provided by Polk County are free to the public. The library will be closed Monday, May 26, in observance of Memorial Day. Remember that in June, the summer reading program begins. The theme this year is Wild about Reading, and once again children and teenagers of all ages will have a chance to qualify for some great prizes by reading books. That’s what I call a win-win situation.

Does April mean it is spring?

Does April that mean spring is here? The robins are back, and most of the snow is gon,e so if there aren’t any April Fool jokes from Mother Nature perhaps it is. At any rate, there are plenty of good things happening at the Aurora Center for the Arts and the Fosston Library to distract you from any worries about the weather. Paintings by Bagley artist Rick Paulin are currently on display at the Sorenson Gallery. These beautiful Minnesota landscapes make use of light and shadow to really come to life. There will be a reception for the artist on Thursday, April 10, from 5:00-6:30. On Sunday, April 13, the high school speech students will be hosting a speech soiree from 1-4 p.m. The public is invited and there will be refreshments. Stephanie Anderson will be teaching an embroidery class on Tuesday, April 22. Not sure about the time on this. Watch for more details. The East Polk Family Resource Center has its grand opening on Wednesday, April 16. They will be using the basement space on Wednesdays from noon to six to connect with local families. Looking ahead to summe,r there will be several children’s theater opportunities coming up – “Alice in Wonderland Jr.” in June for high school students, “Space Pirates” in July/August for elementary school students, and a Shakespeare drama camp August 18-22 for young people ages seven through 14. Tryouts for “Alice in Wonderland” will be held Thursday, May 8, at 3:30. For more information email hello@auroracenterforthearts.org Meanwhile, at the Fosston Library, book club meets Tuesday, April 15, at 2 p.m. This month’s book is Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson, founder of the Equal Justice Initiative. It tells the story of Walter McMillian, sentenced to die for a murder he didn’t commit. If you need a copy of the book, contact the library. Also on April 15, at 6 p.m., there will be a performance of Imagination Theater, a family-friendly show featuring puppetry, poetry, songs, stories and audience participation. Appropriate for all ages, the presentation is especially geared for children ages 3-10. On Friday, April 25, at 1 p.m. Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota will present information about advanced directives for both healthcare and property, as well as powers of attorney.

Andy Hall photos