THURSDAY, JUNE 12
The Noon Hour Concert summer series begins at 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. on Thursday, June 12 at Faithbridge (formerly Faith Baptist) Church featuring a northern Minnesota bluegrass band named Unpolished.
The group, consisting of Mark Bridge, Dick Max, David Karam and Sheldon Schiebe will be playing traditional bluegrass, bluegrass gospel, Western and Americana music. They feature beautiful three-part vocal harmonies backed by banjo, mandolin, guitar and string bass. They invite you to join them as they perform everything from bluegrass to Civil War music.
Audience members are invited to bring lunch to eat before the performance. Bars and beverages will be served. Faithbridge Church is located on south Hwy 71.
A benefit dinner for the U.S. Marine Corps League Honor Guard is from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, June 12 at Necce’s Italian Ristorante in Park Rapids. Tickets are available at Necce’s and Beagle Books.
Compañeros and the Friends of the Library are once again teaming up to bring Jack Pearson to Park Rapids for the 17th year in a row. The concert is in celebration of the Park Rapids Area Library’s Summer Reading Program, Paws to Read, and will be held at Calvary Lutheran Church from 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Thursday, June 12.
Jack is an award-winning storyteller, writer, and recording artist based in Minneapolis. He tells original and traditional stories, writes and sings songs, and plays many instruments including his one and only amplified toy box lid.
The Northwoods State Retirees Club is having its spring meeting and luncheon at noon Thursday, June 12 at the First Base Bar and Grill in Laporte. All MSRS retirees and guests are invited. Call LaVerne Kennedy at 218-547-1364 for reservations. RSVP by June 1.
The Becker County Republicans will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 12 in the Detroit Lakes City Hall meeting room.
FRIDAY, JUNE 13
The 20th anniversary of Relay for Life Hubbard County an American Cancer Society event will be held at the Park Rapids Area High School track Friday, June 13. From 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., teams will walk the track while raising money to help end cancer. This year’s theme is “Finish the Fight” today, with the support of thousands of volunteers; the American Cancer Society is helping save more than 400 lives a day.
Luminaria can be purchased before and during the event and then displayed as a symbol of hope for those currently struggling with cancer and in remembrance of those who have lost the battle. Special yellow luminaria are displayed in a prominent place to thank caregivers for being there during a cancer survivor’s journey. The Hope and Cure luminaria will be lit during the 7 p.m. program. New this year, all caregivers who would like to walk the first lap should register at the registration table in the campsite area.
Everyone is invited to attend. No one has to be on a team to participate. During the 12-hour event, come out enjoy a fun day, walk the track, visit with friends, enjoy the carnival-like atmosphere, with entertainment, food and games being provided at the team campsites.
The Osage Lions will be hosting “White Cane Day” along with “Recycle for Sight” Friday, June 13, at select locations around Park Rapids and Osage.
This is the 19th year the Lions have raised funds. Money donated to the White Cane projects go directly to the Minnesota Lions Eye Bank, Macular Degeneration Center and Children’s Eye clinic.
The miniature white cane is a symbol of the white cane that makes blind people more mobile.
The Lions are collecting used eye glasses and hearing aids. You may drop them off at Hugo’s, Coborn’s, Ace Hardware and L&M Fleet ink Par Rapids.
In Osage, drop-off sites include Osage Bait & Tackle and County Market from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
SATURDAY, JUNE 14
Park Rapids Fire Department volunteer firefighters are excited to be celebrating 125 years of service.
The 11th annual Fireman’s Open House and Feed is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 14 at the Fire Hall.
This free, family-oriented event has several activities. There will be a magician, face painting, a 22-foot slide and bounce house, dunk tank, smoke trailer, auto extrication demonstrations with the Jaws of Life and air bag demonstrations.
They will also have examples of the firefighter agility test, tours of the fire station and the fire trucks, and a visit from Smokey the Bear. Along with the firefighters, people will also get to meet and greet local law enforcement, DNR, North Memorial Ambulance and Hubbard First Response. The Air Care helicopter will be landing.
Firefighters will be serving BBQ pulled pork sandwiches, hot dogs, their famous firehouse beans and French fries.
A Tennis Family Fun Day is set for Saturday, June 14 at the Park Rapids Depot Courts from 10 a.m. to noon.
This free event is for tennis players of all ages and all abilities and will feature tennis based activities and games. No tennis experience is required and racquets will be available to use.
The event is sponsored by the Park Rapids Community Tennis Association.
Come see medieval and renaissance reenactment put on by members of a local Society of Creative Anachronisms (SCA) group Saturday, June 14.
There will be a primitive archery competition and throwing weapons practice. Participate in classes that showcase ancient crafts, music and dance. The classes will be on Saturday as part of a weekend long archery event. Demos will include drop spindle, Viking wire weaving, tablet weaving, stick weaving, belly dancing by Dashiva and drumming.
There is a fee for camping. Please wear RenFaire or Medieval-style clothing (loaner garb available). Primitive camping. Firewood is provided. Merchants of medieval/handcrafted items welcomed.
Go North on 71 to Boot Lake Drive (aka County 42), go west 1.5 miles and follow SCA signs. Gate opens Friday June 14 at noon, classes are Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more info call Kathy Belt 732-0978 or go to
https://ww.facebook.com/groups/orlovadolina/
Emmaville is celebrating 100 years, more or less, on Saturday, June 14.
The burg that claims to be the “biggest little town in the world” will have the “biggest little parade in the world.”
Gates open at 1 p.m., according to the bright orange flyers, which poke self-deprecating fun at the store/gas station that began as a logging camp somewhere around 1900.
Emmaville Store owners Mike and Melinda Spry have continued a tradition of humor.
They advertise the “Emmaville All School Reunion” (for those familiar with the place, the schoolhouse closed in 1955 and is now a hunting shack, converted from the chapel it became when the school closed). It is jokingly referred to on sweatshirts as Emmaville University, dubbed that by former owners Cal and Betty Jensen.
U of Emmaville graduation photos will be displayed. There will be games for kids, live music and caps and gowns during the graduation ceremony.
The town will elect an “ambassador” that will presumably be a dog, a horse, or maybe a human.
You can call 732-8544 for more information.
The 13th annual Ronald McDonald House Ride is Saturday, June 14 starting from New York Mills.
The ride starts at noon at the VFW on Highway 10 in New York Mills. Registration is from 9-11:30 a.m. Rain or shine. All motorcycles are welcome.
The ride will end at the VFW.
where there will be food, door prizes, an auction, raffle, live outside bands and 70 acres of camping. Ronald McDonald House Ride t-shirts are available.
For more information about the ride and camping go to
www.rmhride.com
.
MONDAY, JUNE 16
The 2014 Minnesota All-State Lutheran Choir, making its 45th annual tour, will present a concert at 7:30 p.m. Monday, June 16 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Park Rapids.
About 40 Lutheran young people, chosen through auditions from all over the state of Minnesota, will be performing a wide variety of music from the classics to gospel.
The choir has attained wide acclaim with its fine choral technique and unique style of performance and is in great demand each summer as it tours throughout Minnesota. The conductor of the Minnesota All-State Lutheran Choir is Dr. Thomas Rossin.
The concert is free and open to the public.
SATURDAY, JUNE 21
League of Women Voters and Beagle Books’ Current Event’s Book Club will meet over the summer months this year. They will meet at 5 p.m. Saturday, June 21 at Beagle Books on 3rd Street in Park Rapids. They are reading and discussing Katherine Boo’s book, “Behind the Beautiful Forever.” This is a nonfiction book that provides an eye opening view into the slums of Mumbai (Bombay) India. Everyone is welcome. Come join the discussion.
