Area singers to entertain at Celebration Lutheran Church
Get in the holiday spirit with the Sartell Senior Connection as the St. Cloud Area Fun Singers entertain with their traditional holiday songs and whimsical, humorous stories at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9 at Celebration Lutheran Church. Bring a friend.
Annual Christmas sale held at Immaculate Conception
The annual Christmas cookie, candy and gift sale will be held from 9:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6 and from 9-10:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 7 at Immaculate Conception Church, 145 2nd Ave. NE in Rice. They provide the container, and you fill it with an assortment of cookies and candies for purchase. Handmade and specialty gifts are also for sale by local vendors. Contact the parish office at 320-393-2725 for more information.
Winterwalk hosted in downtown St. Joseph
More than 100 luminaries will light up downtown sidewalks for St. Joseph’s annual Winterwalk from 5-8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12! Some downtown shops will be open until 8 p.m. if they aren’t usually. At 6 p.m., on the Bello Cucina patio, Santa, Mrs. Claus and the Living Tree will light a 16-foot tall Christmas tree, and local choirs will be on hand to serenade passers-by. Join Santa and Mrs. Claus for refreshments, treat bags and craft making from 6:30-8 p.m. at Heritage Hall in the St. Joseph Catholic Church.
Local artists host annual holiday sale
An annual holiday art sale will be held from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6 at two locations, Bruno Press, located at 154 5th Ave. SE in St. Joseph, and at Minnesota Street Market, located at 27 W. Minnesota St., St. Joseph. Nine local artists, who will display and sell various forms of their art, are teaming up. The Market will host four featured artists and Bruno Press will host five featured artists.
Candle-lighting ceremony to be held Dec. 14
Parents, siblings, and grandparents of children who have died are invited to attend a candle-lighting ceremony from 6:30-8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14 at Living Waters Lutheran Church, 1911 4th Ave. N. in Sauk Rapids. Loved ones may bring a single framed photo of their child for display if they wish. Candle lighting will begin at 7 p.m., traveling through each time zone, illuminating the globe in a 24-hour wave of light. For more information, call 320-255-1135.
Cookie Walk set Dec. 6 at First United Methodist
A Cookie Walk will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 6 at First United Methodist Church, 1107 Pinecone Road S., Sartell. Cookies are homemade. Public welcome.
WreathsForTheFallen.org receives more requests
The latest census report from the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery indicates WreathsForTheFallen.org will have to deliver and place several hundred more wreaths this year than last December.
It all started in 2006 when five wreaths were delivered to the cemetery for a ceremony honoring our countries fallen veterans. With the efforts of WreathsForTheFallen.org this event has grown substantially where almost 3,600 wreaths were placed last December in remembrance of our countries fallen heroes. It’s expected the number of internments at the cemetery will reach and maybe exceed 500 additional graves to be honored for this year according to the latest figures.
Letters were sent to the VFWs, American Legions, American Legion Auxiliaries, DAV chapters and Auxiliaries, Eagles Aerie Posts, Moose and Elks lodges in Minnesota requesting contributions for this most worthy cause in honoring our countries fallen heroes.
“Wreaths For The Fallen is a certified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and all contributions are fully tax deductible” said John Thomas, president.
“Any Minnesota organization that has a Lawful Gambling License may legally make contributions to WreathsForTheFallen.org,” Thomas said.
“Last year we had almost 1,000 requests to place a wreath on a specific grave of a family’s loved one,” Thomas said.
Should anyone desire to have a wreath placed on a specific grave all they need to do is provide the name and birth date for each wreath requested and we shall take care of the rest. A handmade Balsam Fir wreath with a bright red bow will be placed on the graves in their honor.
To have your personal wreath handmade and included in this memorable event; send your name, address and phone number (in case of questions) and $15 (for each wreath requested) to: Wreaths, 5244 Ashdale Lane, Baxter, Minn. 56425.
Also include the full name, date of birth of the veteran or family member the wreath is for. WreathsForTheFallen.org will confirm the exact location of the grave site number. Please make your check out to “Wreaths.” All contributions are tax deductible.
For those who would like to make a general donation to this worthy cause, feel free to contribute to the wreath general fund and an appropriate number of wreaths will be made and distributed at the event. Everyone is invited to participate in the wreath laying ceremony this year on Dec. 13 at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Little Falls, MN. The ceremony starts at 11 a.m. sharp and the wreath placement follows.
For additional information, contact: John Thomas at 218-829-6622, e-Mail: Office @WreathsForTheFallen.org or visit www.WreathsForTheFallen.org.
Stearns County seeks input Dec. 10 on transportation plan
Stearns County will host an informational meeting to discuss updating its transportation plan from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10 at Albany City Hall, 400 Railroad Ave. Transportation plans are used to help identify long-term transportation needs and its relationship to other planning activities, while respecting community values and assets. The purpose of this study is to update the 2008 Plan, which was developed as a section of the Stearns County Comprehensive Plan. As part of this effort, Stearns County is seeking community input to review future roadway system elements, as well other important components of the plan, such as traffic forecasts, goals and objectives, and potential trail, transit, freight, safety and roadway improvements. Project staff will be on hand to seek ideas, input and answer questions. For more information, please visit the project website at co.stearns.mn.us/PropertyRoads/TransportationPlanStudy.
Submit entries now for wild turkey stamp
Artists can submit entries for the 2016 Minnesota Wild Turkey Stamp contest from Monday, Dec. 8 through 4 p.m. Monday, Dec. 29, according to the Department of Natural Resources.
The turkey stamp is sold along with hunting and fishing licenses or as a collectable. In the contest, the eastern wild turkey must be the primary focus of the design. Judging will take place on Thursday, Jan. 8 at DNR headquarters, 500 Lafayette Road, in St. Paul.
Revenue from stamp sales is dedicated to wild turkey-habitat management. Extirpated from Minnesota around 1900, wild turkeys now thrive throughout all but the northern forested portions of the state.
The contest offers no prizes and is open to Minnesota residents only. Artists are not allowed to use any photographic product as part of their finished entries. Winning artists usually issue limited-edition prints of the artwork and retain proceeds.
Artists who want to submit entries should closely read contest criteria and guidelines for submitting work, available from the DNR Information Center, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155 and online at www.mndnr.gov/contests.
Catholic Charities seeks to give families beds
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Cloud is looking to raise $10,000 in the next two weeks to purchase beds for families in need. More than 150 families have been adopted this holiday season in Catholic Charities Share the Spirit Program. However, some of their needs are greater than the resources of the generous groups who adopted them.
“About 30 percent of the families adopted this year have some type of larger need,” said Trina Dietz, Share the Spirit coordinator. “The biggest need by far is beds – if we are to fulfill all wishes, we need at least 37 twin-size beds for kids, plus some larger beds for moms or dads.”
Of course, as any child knows, Santa doesn’t always deliver what you wish for, but Dietz says by coming together, the community can provide a merry Christmas for families in need.
Donations are being accepted at www.ccstcloud.org or by calling 320-650-1550.