Upcoming events Aug. 20-28

Saturday, Aug. 20

A North Country Trail day hike will be in the Lake George area and span 8.7 miles Saturday, Aug. 20.

Hikers should meet at 9 a.m. at the trailhead, located at the intersection of CSAH 4 and Halverson Trail, 2.5 miles south of Lake George.

This hike proceeds west from the trailhead to Spider Lake Forest Road, just east of Itasca State Park. The trail crosses the historic Schoolcraft River and features a magnificent balsam forest.

For more information, call 218-675-5448.

A benefit supper for Carol Werner of Lake George will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20 at Lake George Town Hall, Highway 71 in Lake George. A silent auction is from 4 to 6 p.m., bake sale from 4 to 7 p.m. Funds raised will help defray recent medical expenses. Supplemental funds will be provided by the Thrivent Foundation Cass/Hubbard County Chapter. To donate items for the silent auction or bake sale, please contact 218-699-3025.

Sunday, Aug. 21

Author Norma Thorstad Knapp will sign books Sunday, Aug. 21 at Sister Wolf bookstore in Dorset.

Knapp's eclectic background - living in 18 different houses during her first 21 years - plus her numerous losses gives her a rich foundation for writing. Knapp spent summers on Fish Hook Lake for almost 40 years and was a member of the Jackpine Writers for a number of years before moving to Alexandria. "Missing My Best Friend" is her first book. Visit her website at www.normaknapp.com .

The Fishhook Challenge half marathon and 5K run will be held Sunday, Aug. 21, with an out and back loop that starts and finishes in Heartland Park.

Registration opens at 6:30 a.m. The marathon starts at 7:30 a.m. and the 5K at 9:30 a.m.

Runners can take the "dual challenge," run the half marathon and make it back in time to participate in the 5K at 9:30 a.m.

For more information, go to www.fishhookchallenge . com or call Anne Ellefson at 970-799-5646.

Monday, Aug. 22

Wayne Hankel will be teaching a three-day wood carving class Monday through Wednesday, Aug. 22-24 at the Blank Canvas Gallery and Education Center, located at 311 Main Ave. S. in Park Rapids.

Class time will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.

The class projects will utilize carving cut-outs that are pre-cut by the instructor.

Hankel has conducted classes in wood carving for over 20 years. His primary interest centers on realistic wildlife carving but he also does chip carving and relief carving.

Participants will learn proper wood carving techniques and should be able to carve two or three realistic wildlife carvings during the three-day class.

To register or for information on cost, contact Jerry Wegenast at 218-847-3519 or jerry@jwinc.org or check the BCG website http://blankcanvasgallery.org .

The Hubbard County Republicans annual social dinner will be held Monday, Aug. 22 at the Park Rapids American Legion.

Visit with speakers from 5:30 to 6 p.m. Dinner is served at 6 p.m. with speakers from 7 to 8 p.m.

Confirmed speakers are keynote speaker are U. S. Rep. Chip Cravaack of the 8th Congressional district and Rep. Dave Hancock, Dist. 2B, and Rep. Larry Howes, Dist. 4B.

Tickets may be reserved by calling Paul Utke at 255-1131.

Tuesday, Aug. 23

Park Rapids Disabled American Veterans and DAV Auxiliary Chapter 38 are having their annual picnic at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 23 at Park Rapids Depot Park, 4th Street East, in the shelter.

All DAV and DAVA members and prospective members are invited to attend.

Bring a dish to pass.

St. Joseph's Area Health Services is offering an "I'm going to be a big brother/ sister" class for siblings from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 23 in the hospital's lower level conference room.

The class is offered at no charge.

Kids are invited to bring Mom and Dad for a party atmosphere that includes a "silly siblings" video (geared for ages 2 to 6). Kids will receive instruction with a doll on how to hold a baby and be a hands-on helper.

To register, call Janine at 237-5730.

Another class will be offered Nov. 15.

Wednesday, aug. 24

The local Kids Against Hunger group will be packaging food at Faith Baptist Church from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 24. A $10 donation is requested to help with the cost of the supplies. Call 732-1404 to let the group know how many people are coming so they can plan accordingly.

Individuals who will be 12 years old in 2011 are invited to enroll in the Minnesota firearm safety course to be held from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday at the Environmental Education building at the fairgrounds.

Registration will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 24 at the Environmental Education building at which time the books will be handed out and fees collected.

There is no maximum age limit for participants taking the course. Topics covered include firearm handling and care, hunter ethics and responsibility, wildlife management, field testing and other pertinent topics.

Each student will be required to bring a self-addressed, stamped, letter size envelope at the time of registration.

For more information, call Russ Johnsrud at 732-8411 or Ron Norenberg at 237-9356 after 5 p.m. All students must register on Aug. 24 in order to participate.

Thursday, Aug. 25

The Park Rapids Area Library will host a Senior Surf Day from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 25.

Participants will learn some basics about computers and using the Internet.

Space is limited; call the library at 732-4966 to reserve a space.

There is no charge for this training.

Nemeth Art Center will host a members show and fundraiser from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25 at The Good Life Café on Main.

All are welcome for an evening of art, food and music. All works of art are part of the members' collections or personally created pieces.

Tickets are available at the café; the price includes hors d' oeuvres and evening's entertainment.

Saturday, Aug. 27

A flag raising and all-veterans memorial program will be at Howard Maninga's residence, 33517 Bunker Hill Road, Ponsford, at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27. Everyone is welcome. For more information or directions call 218-573-3825.

The North Central Gobblers of Akeley and the Tall Pine Toms of Park Rapids will hold a first ever Jakes Day event Saturday, Aug. 27 at Camp Wilderness.

Kids ages 9 to 17 are invited to attend with their parents. Participants will receive instructions in shooting archery equipment, as well as muzzleloaders, rifles, and shotguns. Participants also will learn to identify animals and recognize safe shots, and learn strategies for hunting deer and turkeys.

Registration runs from 8 to 9 a.m., with the field portion of the day beginning at 9. Lunch, sponsored by the Park Rapids chapter, is at noon and door prizes will be presented during the meal.

For questions, call Jared at 732-3347, Richard at 255-0428, Terry at 732-0181, or Armin at 732-5182.

A Shoreland Expo will be held Saturday, Aug. 27 in the Faith Baptist Church fellowship room, located on Highway 71 South, Park Rapids.

Registration and classes run from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

A bus tour will take participants to three shoreline restoration projects; pre-registration is required by calling Hubbard County Extension at 732-3391.

The expo will provide information about rain gardens and the benefits of rain barrels, protecting and enhancing water quality, shoreland integrity, valued property and plants, fish and other wildlife diversity.

Speakers include Kelly Condiff, Cass County Soil and Water Conservation District; Steve Hall, Shoreline Creations; Shane Foley, Hubbard County SWCD and Cassie Novak, Minnesota Master Naturalist.

This workshop is sponsored by Hubbard County University of Minnesota Extension in collaboration with Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Hubbard County and Cass County SWCD; Shoreline Creations and Coalition of Lake Associations.

The expo is free and open to the public. For more information call Sally Shearer, Hubbard County Extension program coordinator at 732-3391.

Sunday, Aug. 28

St. Theodore's Church of Ponsford and Pine Point will host the 12th annual spaghetti dinner from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 28.

Raffle drawings begin after dinner, with top prizes of $150 and $100 in cash, a hand-carved Santa and queen-size quilt, as well as gift certificates and other "treasures."

Gethsemane Lutheran parish in Snellman will host a centennial celebration Sunday, Aug. 28.

The event marking 100 years of the parish will include a service at 10 a.m., a lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and a centennial service at 2 p.m.

During the centennial service, students from the vacation Bible school will sing a song or two, possibly in Finnish.

A church choir is also forming and may also perform.