Coming Events

• The University of Minnesota Extension Service is sponsoring a program called "Barriers to Bushels" on Thursday, March 11^th in the Atwater Community Center. The cost is $30. Registration is from 9:30-to-10 a.m. There will be 5 sessions from 10-to-3 with a lunch break in between. For more information, call Jodi at 507-337-2800 or Doug at 218-998-5792.

• The Mid-Minnesota Development commission will hold its annual public informational meeting for the Area Transportation Partnerships 2001 to 2014 Area Transportation Improvement Program on Thursday, March 11th at 10 a.m. at the Kandiyohi County Health and Human Services Building.

• 4-H Judge's training will be held March 18th at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Hutchinson 6-to-9 p.m.  The cost is $20 per person.  Pre-registration is required by march 11.  For more information or to pre-register, contact Trisha Sheehan or Kimberly Asche at the University of Minnesota Extension Regional Office in Hutchinson at 1-888-241-3207.

• The 52^nd annual Smelt Fry will be held at the Darwin Rod & Gun Club on Friday, March 12^th from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. – or until the smelt are gone. The cost is $9 for adults, $4 for children under 12, and free for children under 5. The menu will include smelt, homemade potato salad, Cole slaw, onions, bread, Kool-Aid and coffee.

• The Meeker County Dairy Princess Banquet will be on Saturday, March 13^th at 7:30pm. at Zion Lutheran Church in Litchfield.  Tickets are available at the door.

• The Bluestocking Book Club will meet at Cricket Meadow Tea on Saturday, March 13^th at 8 a.m.. They are reading Charlotte Bronte's "the Professor." For more information, call the Litchfield Public Library at 693-2483.

• The Plato Lions Club 27^th annual Spring Brunch is on Sunday, March 14^th from 9-to-12:30 at the Plato Hall. It’s all-you-can-eat – pancakes, sausage, eggs, toast and beverage. Freewill donations will be accepted. There will be diabetes screening on site.

• A breakfast will be held at the Cosmos American Legion on Sunday, March 14^th, beginning at 9 a.m. There will be potato and fruit pancakes, French toast sticks, cheesy eggs, sausage, ham, fruit, coffee cake, milk, juice and coffee. Freewill donations will be accepted.

• Habitat for Humanity of West Central Minnesota is looking for people to be part of its board of directors. People with experience in finances, fundraising or the legal field who live in Chippewa, Kandiyohi, Meeker, Swift or Renville Counties who have a passion for helping people in need are especially encouraged to be candidates. Send your resume to www.joline@habitatwcm.org.

• The Lutheran Social Services adoption information meeting will be held on Thursday, March 18^th from 6-to-8 p.m. at Atonement Lutheran Church at 1144 29^th Avenue North in St. Cloud. Call Lynne at (612) 879-5230 or toll-free at 1-888-205-3769 to register.

• The Litchfield Public Library is hosting a pottery class for kids in 3^rd through 6^th grade. This free class will meet on Mondays, March 15, 22, and 29, from 4-to-5 p.m. in the library's meeting room. Students will make two projects and bring them home after the last class. Sign up at the library or call 693-2483. Space is limited.

• A Spring Sports Meeting for all parents and athletes in grades 7 thru 12 will be held Monday, March 15th at 7:00 p.m at the Senior High School.  This is a great opportunity to meet with coaches and get information before the season begins.  You will also have an opportunity to pay fees and check on physicals at the conclusion of the meeting.  All fees for the 2009-10 are $95 for high school and $50 for middle school. 

• A Gardener’s Gala will be held on Tuesday, March 16^th from 6-to-9 p.m. at Litchfield High School. Dr. Mary Meyer from the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum will be the keynote speaker and there will be break-out sessions. Admission is $5 at the door. The event is sponsored by the Meeker County Master Gardeners, Meeker County Horticulture Society, Litchfield Public Library, and Litchfield Community Education.

• The Peanut Butter and Milk Festival Committee will meet on Tuesday, March 16th at 7 p.m. in the Litchfield High School Ag Room.  Everyone is welcome.

• The Litchfield Community Theatre Gala will be on Friday, March 19^th at 6 p.m. at the Litchfield Eagles Club. There will be dinner, entertainment and a silent auction. The deadline to make reservations is MARCH 16^TH. Tickets are $25 each. For tickets, call Litchfield Community Education at 693-2354.

• A workshop for livestock producers utilizing and selling manure as well as crop producers purchasing manure will be held at the Meeker County Courthouse on Wednesday, March 17th from 1-to-4 p.m. Refreshments will be provided, but space is very limited. Contact the Meeker County Soil & Water Conservation District at 693-7287 to register for the workshop.

• The "We C.A.R.E. About You" Senior Health Expo will be on Wednesday, March 17^th from 9-to-11:30 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Grove City. There will be a free continental breakfast and door prizes. Everyone is welcome. It’s sponsored by the Grove City Area CARE Program.

• The Mystery Book Club is meeting March 17^th at 7 p.m. They are reading Jill Nelson's "The Reluctant Burglar." For more information, call the Litchfield Public Library at 693-2483.

• A Special Event will be held Thursday, March 18th at the Eden Valley-Watkins High School Cafeteria from 7 - 8:30 pm.  Corwin Kronenberg will be speaking on the topic, "Teaching Kids to be Responsible." The event is open to all district residents.  The event is sponsored by PACT4 Families Collaborative and the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Grant.

• A vocal concert scheduled for March 23^rd has been changed to March 18^th. For more information, call the Litchfield High School Activities Office.

• The "Minnesota Crime Wave" is coming to Litchfield again as authors William Kent Krueger, Ellen Hart and Carl Brookins will be at the Augustana Chapel on March 18^th from 4-5:30 p.m.

• The Johnson Kelly American Legion Post 483 and Kingston Lions Club have the annual fish fry on March 19^th from 4:30-to-8 p.m. at the Kingston Community Center. The cost is $8 for adults, $4 for children 6-to-10, and free for pre-schoolers. Take-outs will be available for $9.

• The Minnesota Bluegrass and Old-Time Music Association will present one of its Lonely Pines concerts in Mankato at the Eagles Club on Friday, March 19^th at 8 p.m. To order tickets, call 800-635-3037 or go to www.MinnesotaBluegrass.org.

• The Litchfield Public Library is getting new computers. However, there will not be internet service for a period of time, somewhere around March 17^th to the 19^th while the computers are installed. Check with the Library on availability. Call 693-2483.

• The Knights of Columbus, Litchfield Council 2029, 4^th annual Fish Fry will be on Friday, March 19^th from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. – or until the fish are gone – at St. Philip’s Church in Litchfield. The menu will include Alaskan Pollock, baked potato, Cole slaw, baked beans, dinner rolls, milk, juice, coffee and cookies. Carry-outs, and delivered meals can be arranged. {The deliveries have to be an order of at least 5 meals – call 221-3140 by March 17^th.} The cost is $9 for adults, $8 for seniors – 65 and older, $5 for children 6-to-12, and free for children 5 and under.

• The Minnesota Deer Hunters Association – Crow River Area Chapter – has its 16^th annual banquet on Saturday, April 3^rd at the McLeod County Fairgrounds with social time at 4 p.m. and dinner at 6. There will be hundreds of prizes. Reservations need to be made by March 20^th. Call Harold Lundin at 693-2737 or Kevin Midtling at 593-7817.

• St. Anthony’s Church in Watkins will have a soup sale on Sunday, March 21^st from 8:30-to-noon. Bouja is $10 a gallon and chicken noodle is $9 a gallon.

• The Dassel Public Library is hosting Minnesota author Chris Farrell from National Public Radio's Marketplace Money. Farrell will talk about his new book "The New Frugality: How to Consume Less, Save More, and Live Better." This event will take place at the Dassel History Center and Ergot Museum on Monday, March 22^nd, at 7 p.m. No registration is necessary.

• The M-S Support Group will meet in the Meeker Memorial Hospital Conference Center on Tuesday, March 23^rd at 3 p.m.

• The American Red Cross will have a blood drive at the Litchfield Eagles Club on Thursday, March 25^th from 1-to-7. To make appointments, call Brenda Rick at 593-1967.

• The Church of St. Anthony in Watkins has a fish fry on Friday, March 26^th from 4:30-to-8 p.m. in the parish cafeteria. There will be fish, baked beans, Cole slaw, potato salad, bread, homemade bars and beverages. Take out orders will be available. It’s $8 for adults, $4 for children 4-to-10, and free for children 3 and under. It’s sponsored by the Council of Catholic Women.

• The annual Palm Sunday Concert – sponsored by the Grove City Women’s Club – will be on Sunday, March 28^th at 2 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Grove City. There will be special numbers performed by members of the local churches. An offering will be taken for the Grove City Area CARE program. Refreshments will be served.

• A benefit fundraiser will be held for Craig and Elaine Sietsema on Sunday, March 28^th from 9-to-1:30 in the Atwater Community Center. There will be a pancake and sausage breakfast, a silent auction, a bake sale, a live auction at 12:30 and more. Craig has been battling cancer. Cash donations can also be sent to Atwater State Bank. Supplemental funds applied for through Thrivent Financial.

• Curves of Litchfield will be conducting a food drive during the month of March. Any donation of non-perishable food or cash would be appreciated. Members who donate a bag of groceries or $30 in cash will receive a reusable Curves grocery bag. Non-members who do likewise from March 8^th to 20^th will be able to join Curves for free. For more information, call Linda at 593-1600 or stop at 28 West 2^nd Street in Litchfield.

• The Parkinson’s Support Group will meet in the Meeker Memorial Hospital Conference Center on Wednesday, March 31^st at 1:30 p.m.

• The Meeker Memorial Hospital Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support Group will meet at the Rosemary Home in Litchfield on Tuesday, April 6^th at 7 p.m. The group meets on the first Tuesday of each month.

April 10, 2010

• The Spring Fling at Emmaus Gift Shop in Litchfield will be on Saturday, April 10^th. There will be a brunch in the Gloria Dei dining room from 8-to-10 a.m. The gift shop will open at 8 a.m. and there will be a 10% discount on all merchandise. Everyone’s welcome. The gift shop is at 200 North Holcombe Avenue.

• The Arthritis and Fibromyalgia Support Group will meet in the Meeker Memorial Hospital Conference Center on Monday, April 12^th at 2 p.m.

• The Cokato Historical Society’s annual meeting will be on Thursday, April 15^th at 7 p.m. in the Centennial Room.

• The Cardiac and Diabetes Support Group will meet on Thursday, April 15^th at 6:30 p.m. in the Meeker Memorial Hospital Conference Center.

• A benefit will be held for Liam Gabrielson on Friday, April 16^th at St. Philip’s Catholic Church in Litchfield from 4-to-8 p.m. There will be raffle drawings, a silent auction, a live auction, and a bake sale. There will also be a spaghetti dinner served from 4-to-7 p.m. – for a freewill offering. An account is also set up at Center National Bank in Litchfield. Liam is the son of Mike & Aimee Gabrielson and was born with a congenital diaphragmatic hernia. He spent 4 months at Children’s Hospital.

• The Litchfield Community Youth Theatre will present "Music Man Junior" on April 15^th, 16^th and 17^th at 7 p.m. and April 18^th at 2 p.m. in the Bernie Aaker Auditorium. For more information, call Litchfield Community Education at 693-2354.

• The M-S Support Group will meet in the Meeker Memorial Hospital Conference Center on Tuesday, April 27^th at 3 p.m.

• The Parkinson’s Support Group will meet in the Meeker Memorial Hospital Conference Center on Wednesday, April 28^th at 1:30 p.m.

• Auditions for the Litchfield Community Theatre production of "Footloose" will be on May 17^th and 18^th. To set up a specific time, call Litchfield Community Education at 693-2354.

• Litchfield Community Theatre presents "Footloose" July 28^th, 29^th and 30^th at 7:30 p.m. and July 31^st at 2 p.m. in the Bernie Aaker Auditorium. For tickets or other information, call Litchfield Community Education at 693-2354.

• If you’re concerned about making your house payments, Heartland Community Action Agency and the Minnesota Home Ownership Center and the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency are teaming up to provide counseling.  Residents of Meeker, McLeod, Kandiyohi and Renville Counties can find out more by calling toll-free: 1-800-992-1710.

• Heartland Community Action Agency has the Reach Out For Warmth program to assist families who are having trouble paying their heating bills.  If anyone is willing to make a tax-deductible contribution to the program, send checks to Heartland Community Action Agency at 200 Southwest 4th Street, Post Office Box 1359, Willmar, MN 56201.

• Senior dining is available in Grove City at South Grove Square.  Meals are served Mondays through Fridays, except for major holidays, at 11:30 a.m.  Use the north entrance.  Reservations need to be made one day in advance.  Call 857-2274 or 857-9473.  Grove City has the same menu as the meal site in Litchfield.  Home delivered meals are also available.  The suggested donation for seniors is $3.50 – and $6.50 for people under 60.

• The Census Bureau is in the process of hiring thousands of temporary workers to gather information for the 2010 Census. For more information, call the St. Paul office toll-free at 1-866-861-2010.

• The Meeker County National Alliance on Mental Illness meets monthly and offers support, education and advocacy. For more information, call Marilyn Anderson at 693-0468.  If you are having suicidal thoughts call 911 or if you’re having other mental health problems, go to the emergency room, or call Woodland Centers at 1-800-992-1716, Meeker County Social Services at 693-5300, or the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office at 693-5400.

• Heartland Community Action Agency has a program called "Helping People Get There" in which people can donate their cars to low-income families. For more information, call 1-800-992-1710.

• Over-eaters Anonymous meets every Monday at noon in the Hutchinson Library basement. For Mondays that are holidays, the meetings are moved to Tuesday. For more information, call Sharon at 320-587-5889.

• The McLeod County Museum in Hutchinson will no longer have Monday evening hours. The new hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 1-to-4. The museum will be available Monday evenings by appointment only. For more information, call 587-2109. The museum is located at 380 School Road North in Hutchinson.

• The Grove City Area Historical Museum will be closed until further notice. For appointments or questions, call Dorothy at 857-9422.

Cancer Snowball Challenge

Snowball Cancer Challenge is a snowmobiling event to raise awareness and money to help people with cancer. During this event, Nick Keller will attempt to set a new world record by snowmobiling over 12,200 miles within 60 consecutive days. Nick is planning on snowmobiling within the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan.  This 60 day event is planned to start between December 2009 and January 2010.

www.snowballcancer.org

A man, his sled, and miles of snow...