Outdoor University hosts Collegeville Kidstock
Collegeville Kidstock, sponsored by St. John’s Outdoor University, is a family-friendly outdoor festival from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 28 at Watab Picnic Grounds in St. John’s Abbey Arboretum, Collegeville. Register by June 25 and save 50-percent off the gate price. The event features Paul Spring, a singer-songwriter from St. Cloud, at 2 and 4 p.m., and magic performed by St. John’s University graduate Jared Sherlock at 3 p.m. Bring a picnic supper, or purchase concessions from St. John’s Parish Center at the event. Enjoy a variety of outdoor activities, including canoeing, a bonfire with s’mores, educational tables, bouncy houses, lawn games and more throughout the afternoon.
Spring’s first collection of kids and family music, Home of Song, was released in 2013 and was described on NPR as “an ode to books and stories, and to the families who nurture them.” Sherlock is a professional illusionist and a comic magician. Sherlock is an award-winning entrepreneur who performs for theaters, events and fundraisers nationwide.
Parking will be available at the St. John’s Parish Center and at SJU. In the event of inclement weather, the festival will be moved indoors to the Warner Palaestra on the St. John’s University campus. For more information, visit www.csbsju.edu/OutdoorU, or call 320-363-3163.
Catholic Charities program to help Roosevelt rise from ashes
In order to begin again from the June 14-15 fire, the staff of Roosevelt Early Childhood Center is scrambling to secure a number of books, clothing and play items for pre-school children and is asking the public for help. Donations may be delivered between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to Catholic Charities Administrative Offices, 911 18th St. N., St. Cloud. District 742 is also accepting monetary donations sent to 1000 44th Ave. N., Ste. 100, St. Cloud, MN 56303. Please make checks payable to ISD 742/Roosevelt.
As the Roosevelt Early Childhood Center burned on June 14 and 15, Catholic Charities employees were among those in mourning. For many years, District 742 has partnered with Catholic Charities Young Learners Program to provide special education and mental health services at the site.
“Four of our staff serve children ages 3-6 who have significant mental health challenges” said Tim Lieser, Catholic Charities director of residential and day programming. “To those staff, and the kids they served, this was their school.”
Catholic Charities Young Learners Program follows the District 742 schedule, so only staff planned to report on June 16. All classes were cancelled for this week. The one wall of the program left standing has a hand-painted tree on it – The “Calm Down Tree.”
“That tree was a centerpiece of our program,” Lieser said. “We, as staff, often talk to kids about coping skills and needing to find a way to calm down. I really think this tree – even though it’s painted, stayed standing for a reason. It reminds us we’ll get through this.”
In order to begin again, the staff needs to scramble to secure a number of items. The public can drop off any donations at Catholic Charities Administrative Offices, 911 18th St. N., St. Cloud between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Donations needed include the following items: cash donations, Playdoh, Playdoh toys, Kinetic sand (Michael’s craft store), Moon sand, Legos, Duplos, superhero toys, baby dolls and clothing, doctor kit, stuffed animals/pets for vet play, kitchen toys, coloring books, children’s books, Barnes and Noble gift certificates, cube chairs, bean bags, blankets, kids underwear sizes 4-8, pillow pets/stuffed animals, preschool games, Rubbermaid/storage containers of all sizes, children’s DVDs – Dora, Ni Hia Ki LAN, Backyardagins, Sesame Street, Barney, disposable cups and bowls, snacks, crayons, washable markers, glue sticks, children’s scissors, typing paper, pencils and wide-ruled notebooks.
The administration and staff of the St. Cloud School District 742 would also like to thank the community for its outpouring of support and generous offerings of donations in the aftermath of the Roosevelt fire. All monetary donations can be sent to St. Cloud Area School District 742 District Administration Offices, 1000 44th Ave. N., Suite 100, St. Cloud, Minn. 56303. Please make checks payable to ISD 742/Roosevelt.
SCSU hosts 41st Lemonade Concert, Art Fair
St. Cloud celebrates the 41st annual Lemonade Concert and Art Fair from 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Thursday, June 26 at St. Cloud State University. St. Cloud State’s key summer event, which kicks off the city’s Granite City Days weekend of events, brings more than 12,000 attendants from throughout Central Minnesota to browse, shop and interact with others in the community. More than 200 vendors will display their arts and crafts including pottery, photography, stained glass, clothing, woodwork and various sculptures. Food vendors will provide fresh-squeezed lemonade, reuben sandwiches, cheese curds and more. Farmer’s Market vendors will offer fresh local produce, hand-made fudge and prepackaged gourmet cooking spices.
The Little Lemons Art Park will engage children with hands-on activities. Staff from the Paramount Visual Arts Center lead the fun on the south end of Stewart Hall from 11 a.m.–6 p.m. The St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra, with guest conductor Brian DeMaris, will perform at the Atwood Mall Mainstage from 7:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m. Other musical entertainment throughout the day includes: Paul Imholte, roving musician; SitarTabla TwinCities, Hindustani classical music; and Jazz.Combo, a local jazz group.
St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis presents the Rock-On Awards during the Granite City Opening Ceremony at 6:30 p.m.
A free shuttle service will be provided throughout the event from K and Q parking lots on the south end of campus. Other free public parking is available in most campus lots. Parking in the 4th Avenue Parking Ramp is available for an hourly fee or a daily rate.
The Lemonade Concert and Art Fair is free and open to the public. The event is managed by St. Cloud State’s Department of Campus Involvement. For full listing of events visit http://scsu.mn/12wzyCH.
County posts ‘No Wake’ lakes
Stearns County area lakes are currently experiencing unusually high water levels. In particular the Chain of Lakes and Sauk River area around Cold Spring and Richmond as well as Two Rivers Lake in the St. Anna area are especially high. The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office is in the process of placing “No Wake” signs in these areas. In these lakes and rivers and in all Stearns County Waters the Sheriff’s Office is asking boaters to exercise restraint, good judgment and common sense. Boat operators should reduce their speed to create no wake or waves from their boat. Water patrol officers will be out on area lakes over the weekend, weather permitting, reminding boaters to follow these recommendations. The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office thanks all boaters for their cooperation in this matter. The following lakes have been added to the “No Wake Advisory” as of June 17. Koronis Lake in Paynesville Township, Rice Lake in Eden Lake and Paynesville Township and Big Lake in Munson Township. This is in addition to the lakes that had advisory no wakes already in place. The Stearns County area continues to receive large amounts of rain and other lakes may be added as needed.