Happy New Year! May your 2015 be filled with great books and plenty of time to read. I do hope you will plan on attending some of the great programs we have planned at the library this coming year.
Storytime will start up again tomorrow, Thursday, Jan. 8, at 10:30 a.m. with about 30 minutes of stories, rhymes and song about birthdays. Following storytime is about 30 minutes of play time with the library’s collection of early science toys and games. Storytime followed by play time will be held each Thursday morning, beginning at 10:30 a.m., with winter stories for two weeks followed by stories about clothes.
Friday, Jan. 9, join us for our new program “Open Mic” beginning at 7 p.m. This fall we replaced the carpet in the old community room section of the building and rearranged the shelving so the stage is more open. So now is your chance to share with others your talents whether they be singing, acting, reading poetry, or whatever suits your fancy. Share original works or your favorite piece written by someone else. Anyone is welcome to come and just listen as well. We plan on making this a monthly feature, the second Friday of each month. Put us on your calendar and don’t be shy.
Thursday, Jan. 15, at 3:30 p.m., we are pleased to be able to host the Duluth Art Institute program “Painting with Wool: Needle Felting Fun.” This free family workshop using colorful sheep’s wool to create landscapes or colorful abstract art is open to anyone from elementary school on up. This program is made possible by Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
Crafty Tuesday is held each Tuesday and is a simple program with the library putting out craft supplies and directions in the junior room for anyone to complete a simple craft each week.
Winter is a good time to watch movies and the library provides a couple of opportunities in January. Join us on Monday, Jan. 26, at 6:30 p.m. here at the library for the documentary movie “It’s a Girl.” This documentary filmed in China and India talks with people about the infanticide of girls and the reasons. Refreshments and discussion follow the film.
Put Thursday, Jan. 29, at 7 p.m. on your calendar for the fifth annual “On the Edge Family Film Festival.” We received many wonderful films this year and will have a fun filled evening of entertainment. Stay tuned for particulars about the films being shown that evening. Join us at Backus Auditorium and vote for your favorite production. Admission is $2 plus a donation to the food shelf.
Ask if you have questions about any of our programs. Let us know if you have programs you’d like to see us offer. We are always open to new suggestions and will see if we can find someone to do it or create a program that you’d like to see. Maybe you have a program you’d like to offer, let us know.
25 YEARS AGO
Ron and Karla Zaren announce the arrival of their daughter, Ashley Elizabeth, born today at Falls Memorial Hospital.
Football legend and Falls native Bronko Nagurski, 81, died quietly at Falls Memorial Hospital at 9:40 p.m. of cardiopulmonary complications.
40 YEARS AGO
Koochiching County Commissioner John Mueller ended nearly a quarter century of service as first district county commissioner. Today he’s enjoying retirement on a fishing trip.
Miss Mary Geer, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dan Geer, 1312 10th St., and Duane Fish, son of Mr. and Mrs. Donald Fish, 1209 Second Ave. E., will be united in marriage Saturday afternoon, Jan. 11.
50 YEARS AGO
Gordon Nelson, 34, joined Mando as an industrial engineer on Jan. 1.
A boy was born today at La Verendrye Hospital Fort Frances, to Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Napper, Loman Route; 9 pounds, 2 ounces.
The engagement of Virginia Bishop to Eckhardt Werner is announced by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Bishop, 1418 Second Ave. E.
Mr. and Mrs. Orville Olson are now at home in Littlefork following their marriage which was an event of Dec. 31 in Howard Lake.
60 YEARS AGO
A daughter was born today at Falls Memorial Hospital to Mr. and Mrs. Verne Larsen, Ranier; weight, 9 pounds, 6 ounces; name chosen, Mary Lou.
Ronald W. Adams, son of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Adams, South International Falls, recently was promoted to corporal while serving with the United Nations command, Military Armistice commission, in Korea.
A son was born today at Falls Memorial Hospital to Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Mattson; weight, 8 pounds, 4 1/2 ounces; name chosen, Donald Ernest.
Miss Jackie Lee was honored at a personal shower at the home of Mrs. Max Kinniger, 620 Fourth Ave.
70 YEARS AGO
Marie Carlson, tops among women bowlers in the Falls, added new laurels to her kegling wreath Wednesday when she hung up a record shattering total of 828 in four games, mixed doubles competition. Her score ranks along with the best scores in last season’s national records.
Robert Bruce Davison, EM 2/c, 28, a lifelong resident of International Falls, gave his life recently in action in the Pacific war theater.
Pfc. Earl Holms, 27, son of Mrs. Selma Holms of Ericsburg, was slain on a German battleground Dec. 27.
Relatives and friends in Littlefork were notified Sunday of the death of Pfc. Russell Foster, son of Mr. and Mrs. Leo Foster of Windom, formerly of Littlefork. Pvt. Foster was killed in a car accident
Several of the RSVP award recipients are pictured, including, back row, left, Mary Ann Lien, Beverly Beck, Pamela Hanson, Bea Brown, Carolyn McDougall, Betty Olson, Marguerite Davison, Jane Barthell, Norma Krats, Bernice Brown, John Frederickson and Shirley Wagner. Front row, Bette Simon, Carol Lagoo, Margarete Kostiuk, Lorraine Hopke, Les Gooler and Barb Eckels.
During this season of celebrating the new year, the ElderCircle Retired and Senior Volunteer Program of Koochiching County recognized members for volunteer service this past year.
Fifty-six volunteer service awards were presented to 39 RSVP members at the 33rd Annual ElderCircle RSVP Volunteer Celebration conducted in September at Lenard’s.
Awards were presented for 300+ Annual Service Hours, 20+ Years of Service, and 3,000+ Lifetime Hours of Service.
Most members have a primary station where they volunteer.
RSVP member Dorothy (Dottie) Glowack won the grand prize drawing at the celebration. Glowack is a volunteer leader of the RSVP Bone Builders class held each Tuesday and Thursday at Woodland Apartments.
RSVP members were honored for volunteer service from July 2013 through June 2014.
During that time, a total of 179 Koochiching County RSVP members were engaged in volunteer activities throughout the area, contributing 23,771 service hours for 27 nonprofit organizations.
RSVP members are encouraged to meet a “healthy volunteering threshold” of serving one to two hours per week, or 50 to 100 hours per year, to maximize the personal health benefits of volunteer service. RSVP reported that 117 (65.3 percent) of its active Koochiching County members met this threshold.
RSVP connects community members age 55+ to volunteer opportunities that help address local community needs and build healthy communities. Promoting volunteerism and civic engagement is a way for RSVP and the communities it serves to tap into the time, talent and experience of older adults.
During fiscal year 2014, the greatest number of RSVP member hours in Koochiching County were served at the following partner stations: AARP Tax Aide – 3,138 hours; Arrowhead Transit – 1,258; Backus Community Center – 1,835; Falls Hunger Coalition – 1,520; Koochiching County Senior Center – 1,122; Kootasca Senior Center, Northome – 1,804; Meals On Wheels, I. Falls – 1,449; Northome City Library – 1,348; Rainy Lake Medical Center – 4,703; and ElderCircle RSVP Bone Builders, Northome and I. Falls – 1,640.
The mission of ElderCircle RSVP is “to engage adults age 55+ in volunteer service to support the independence and well-being of seniors, and to experience the health benefits of volunteering.” While busily serving in their local communities, RSVP members also improve their own lives by staying active and civically engaged, and experiencing physical and mental health benefits, members report. RSVP offers flexible volunteer opportunities, with scheduling according to the volunteer’s availability.
The RSVP program of Koochiching County is sponsored by ElderCircle and funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service and the Minnesota Board on Aging. Koochiching County residents who are age 55 or over and are interested in improving their lives and health through volunteering may contact ElderCircle RSVP at 218-999-5441 or rsvp@eldercircle.org for more information.
Pet of the Week
Hi, my biography hasn’t been completed yet because I am a work in progress. Each chapter of my life has been so different, going from having a family to no home at all and then moving in to the shelter. I am the kind of cat who is very flexible, not only physically, but with changes in my life. The next chapter in my life will be one of happiness and laughter, one that will include my forever home. I don’t know who the luck person will be who will be by my side, but I can’t wait to meet him or her. Until that time comes, I will be patiently waiting for my next chapter to be written. — Sincerely, Erica
For more information, visit the website at www.borderlandhumanesociety.org or call 218-324-2313 or 283-9276.
The following births haven been reported from La Verendrye General Hospital, Fort Frances, Ontario.
Born to:
Jenna Allison and Brock Parisien, Fort Frances, Ontario, a daughter, Karmella Claire Bosma, 5 pounds, 10 ounces, Dec. 15, 2014.
David and Sara Loewen (nee Deatherage), Stratton, Ontario, a son, Carson James Loewen, 8 pounds, 9 ounces, Dec. 17, 2014.
Jenna Gogosha and Faron Morrisseau, Fort Frances, a son, Treydon Theodore Murray Morrisseau, 7 pounds, 10 ounces, Dec. 19, 2014.
