2016 Holiday Guide

2016

HOLIDAY guide

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Brainerd Dispatch & Echo Publishing

S2 Thursday, November 24, 2016

HOLIDAY GUIDE 2016

www.brainerddispatch.com

Christmas at the Mansions celebrates 10th year

LITTLE FALLS — The 10th annual Christmas at the Mansions holiday event is coming and will run daily from Nov. 25 through Dec. 4 at Linden Hill in Little Falls. Both of the mansions — the Weyerhaeuser and Musser — were built in 1898 and will be decorated with a “Twas the Night Before Christmas” theme and open for self-guided tours. Between the two mansions there will be 50 decorated rooms with volunteers in many of the rooms to help tell the story of the two lumber magnate families who once lived in these mansions, the Weyerhaeuser and Musser families. Of these two homes, the Weyerhaeuser mansion is open in the summer for guided tours and the Musser mansion is typically used as a conference/event center and lodging thus closed to tours, so it is a rare opportunity to view both mansions in the wintertime. Cookies and hot cider will be available for guests, as well as live music in the Musser mansion. Christmas at the Mansions tours will run from 1-7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays from Nov. 25 through Dec. 4 and from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on the two Sundays during that time period. Adult tickets are $12, students aged 12-17 are $5 and children 11 and under are free. Families and groups of all sizes and ages are welcome.

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HOLIDAY GUIDE 2016

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Thursday, November 24, 2016 S3

Winter Wonderland to open for holiday ASL clubs partner with Sertoma

The annual Brainerd Area Sertoma Club’s Winter Wonderland opens during the Thanksgiving Holiday and continues to operate through the New Year at the Northland Arboretum in Brainerd and Baxter.

Winter Wonderland is a Christmas-themed lighted holiday display found throughout the arboretum where people drive through and view it from their vehicle. There are more than 80 colorfully animated, lighted displays that are sponsored by local businesses.

Winter Wonderland will be open from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays, with additional dates through the holidays. Special walking events are planned on some Sundays, Dec. 4, 11 and 18, such as a horse hay ride, a walk, sled and ski event where vehicles won’t be allowed to drive through the park on these event nights. Go to http://www.sertomawinterwonderland.com for the updated schedule.

Cost is $15 per vehicle, $50 for small buses and limos and $10 for advance tickets.

Partnering with Sertoma for Winter Wonderland One of the Sertoma Club’s mission is hearing health and again the club will partner with the American Sign Language Clubs at Brainerd High School and Central Lakes College.

Sertoma created Camp Sertoma, a camp for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, at Confidence Learning Center to be a continuing legacy for John Haapajoki who conceived of the idea shortly before he passed away after a long bout with cancer. Volunteering for many activities and helping to serve food to the campers is a way to improve the students signing skills.

About six years ago, Camp Sertoma directors Jennie Bailey and Emily Smith-Lundberg began working with the two clubs — where Tanya Hoting Mrazek is the adviser for the CLC club and Jody Converse is the adviser for the BHS club — with Winter Wonderland in signing Christmas carols.

The Holiday Village, in the arboretum which hosts Winter Wonderland, has since been discontinued due to the extensive demand for workers, but the sign language clubs have continued to be involved as a partnership fundraiser. The students also help with setup and takedown, where they are able to earn enough money to help fund their trip to Gallaudet University.

Sertoma also partners with the Northland Arboretum, Camp Confidence and The Crisis Line Referral Center to

Ashley Nelson and her son Eli Kalk are surrounded by lights Tuesday night during a bulb test at the Sertoma Winter Wonderland in the Northland Arboretum. The display is scheduled to open Thanksgiving evening at 5:30 to 8:30 and run through December 31. The annual lighting display is sponsored by the Brainerd Area Sertoma Club along with several businesses and organizations.

Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls

get much of the work done.

Pequot to hold annual Santa’s Bobbin’ Into Town event

Pequot Lakes’ annual Santa’s Bobbin’ Into Town event will spread holiday cheer with various family-friendly events Saturday, Dec. 10, in downtown Pequot Lakes.

The schedule is as follows: • 3:30 p.m. — Santa and Mrs. Claus will lead story time and Jingles the Elf will make animal balloons at Cole Memorial Building. There will also be a magician, crafts and goodies.

• 4-6 p.m. — Ms. Pequot Lakes Royalty will host a bonfire with cocoa, s’mores and caroling.

There will also be free horse and wagon rides and a kids bobber hunt.

• 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. — Dinner for kids at Hungry Loon Cafe for $4 and photos with Santa at Jack Pine Center • 5 p.m. — Christmas for Vets veteran ceremony in Trailside Park band shelter • 6 p.m. — “Light Up the Night” parade. The parade take place on Government Drive from Pro-Build Lumber, then left on Main Street and left at the four-way stop.

There is no entry fee for the parade. Call Barb Merritt at 218-568-4695 for more information.

Santa Claus reads a book to children gathered Saturday, Dec. 12, at the Cole Memorial Building in Pequot Lakes, where Pequot Lakes Library volunteers organized crafts and served treats as part of Santa’s Bobbin’ Into Town festivities.

Photo by Nancy Vogt

Toni Papillon, left, Savannah Larson and Mackenzie Papillon-Renford sing carols while others roast marshmallows at the bonfire at Trailside Park in Pequot Lakes on Saturday, Dec. 12, as part of Santa’s Bobbin’ Into Town festivities.

Photo by Nancy Vogt

Downtown Brainerd dazzles for the holidays

A series of events are taking place in downtown Brainerd this holiday season.

The first, “Gnome for the Holidays,” is 1-6 p.m. Nov. 26 in downtown Brainerd. At 1 p.m., Santa Claus will arrive downtown on a fire truck, then from 1-3:30 p.m., the man in red will be available for pictures. He’ll also have a stock of goodie bags to hand out.

From 1-4 p.m., a horse and trolley will provide rides, along with activities at participating stores and community centers. A tree lighting ceremony and the singing of Christmas carols will take place at 5 p.m. on the corner of Sixth and Laurel streets.

The “Hunt for the Gnome” contest will take place from Nov. 28 through Dec. 2. Clues to find the gnome will be posted every morning in the Brainerd Dispatch and on the downtown Brainerd Facebook page starting Nov. 28.

This particular gnome can be identified by his long, white beard and his long-tipped red hat. A prize basket with goodies will go to the lucky participant who finds the elusive gnome.

Downtown Brainerd will also host a “Best Beard” contest which runs from November through Dec. 2. Hirsute participants may compete in five categories: longest beard, thickest beard, most original beard, best overall beard and best effort. A cash prize of $50 will be awarded in each category. Call 218-828-7844 for more information.

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Brainerd Lions to host spaghetti dinner The Brainerd Lions Club is hosting a spaghetti dinner with Santa Claus event starting at 5 p.m. Dec. 5 at First Lutheran Church, 424 South Eighth St. Santa Claus will arrive at 5 p.m. with presents for all the children who attend. Serving will also start at 5 p.m. Tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for children ages 5-12. Children under age 5 eat free.

Attendees are asked to bring a donation for the Brainerd Leos Club, which is collecting hats, gloves and socks for homeless youth. Free eye tests, with parental permission, will be given by members of the Brainerd Lions and Leos clubs.

CLC to host rock ’n’ roll Christmas event

Stage North Theatre presents ‘Little Women’

Central Lakes College is hosting Rock & Roll Christmas for an unorthodox Christmas show featuring live music, comedy, parodies and a game show.

The event is 7:30-10 p.m. Dec. 16 at Cragun’s Resort on Gull Lake. The social hour with open bar starts at 6:30 p.m., with the show starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults and $18 for those under the age of 18. The event is sponsored by Good Neighbor Home Health Care and Jack Pine Brewery. Rock & Roll Christmas is celebrating its 12th year this year. Its website touts the show as a Las Vegas-caliber, multimedia, rock ’n’ roll extravaganza that mixes hilarious stories with your favorite holiday songs in a way like you’ve never heard before.The line-up of musicians includes Paul “Stretch” Diethelm and Ted Manderfeld, who are joined on stage by vocalists Pamela McNeill, Stacy Bauer, and Tim Haussner, and backed by bassist Mike Zeleny, saxophonist and flutist Mike Kreitzer and drummer Billy Thommes. Visit www.rrxsrocks.com for more information about the group.

The Central Lakes Community Performing Arts Center at CLC is a regional provider of artistic learning opportunities and cultural enrichment through the performance of musical and dramatic arts. Visiting guest artists are showcased as part of the Cultural Arts Series, with events on campus and, on occasion, at Tornstrom Auditorium. Visit www.clcmn.edu/arts for more information.

Stage North Theatre Company of Brainerd is presenting “Little Women” this holiday season.

The community theater production is an original adaptation based on the novel

by Louisa may Alcott.

“The structure of the play faithfully covers that of the novel, interweaving the lives of the March girls, Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy and Laurie, the boy next door, as they grow up happily together — yet the action is contained neatly in one set. All the overtones of gaiety and the undertones of sadness are here, bringing the story completely to life in a way which is both accurate and dramatically satisfying,” the theater company reported. The production starts at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15, 16,17 and at 2 p.m. on Dec. 17 and Dec. 18.

For more information, call the ticket line at 218-232-6810.

The Stage North Theatre Company is a nonprofit 501(c)(3), true “community theatre” production company located at 1001 Kingwood St. The 478-seat Stage North Theatre Company is located in the re-furbished Franklin Arts Center.

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HOLIDAY GUIDE 2016

Thursday, November 24, 2016 S5

Nisswa lights up the town

Nisswa welcomes the holiday season by lighting up downtown Friday, Nov. 25, as part of the annual City of Lights Festival.

Festivities will begin in the afternoon, with the lights adorning trees, fences, stores and other buildings coming on at 5:30 p.m.

The rest of the day’s activities are as follows: 2-7:30 p.m.: Eats & Treats. Enjoy food items around town.

2-4 p.m.: Write a letter to Santa at the Nisswa Chamber Office; lighting of bonfires at Paul Bunyan Trail and Nisswa Square.

2:30-7 p.m.: Horse-drawn wagon rides at Nisswa Square.

3:30 p.m.: Polar Express storytelling at Caboose on Main Street (limited seating).

3:30-6:30 p.m.: Live reindeer at Nisswa Pocket Park.

4-7 p.m.: Strolling carolers through downtown.

4-5:45 p.m.: See Santa Claus at Nisswa Square.

4 p.m.: Storytelling at Turtle Town Books & Gifts.

4 p.m.: Polar Express storytelling at Caboose on Main Street (limited seating).

4:30 p.m.: Central Lakes College Brass Ensemble at Nisswa Square.

4:30 p.m,: Polar Express storytelling at Caboose on Main Street (limited seating).

4:45 p.m.: Free hot cider and doughnut holes at the Pioneer Village.

4:45-7 p.m.: Kids crafts with Black Bear 4-H Club at the Pioneer Village.

5 p.m.: Polar Express storytelling at Caboose on Main Street (limited seating).

5 p.m.: Luminary walk at the Pioneer Village.

5-7 p.m.: Live Nativity scene with Lake Country parish youth at the Pioneer Village.

5:29 p.m.: Countdown to the lighting of Nisswa.

5:30 p.m.: Light up the town.

5:45 p.m.: Love Lights a Tree ceremony, Good Samaritan Communities at the Pioneer Village.

6 p.m.: Here Comes Santa Claus. Christmas carolers perform and Santa arrives at the gazebo on Main Street.

Sprout holiday markets scheduled

LITTLE FALLS — The Sprout Growers & Makers Marketplace will have three indoor holiday market events at its location in Little Falls.

The markets will be 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 26, Dec. 10 and Dec. 17. Local food, gifts and holiday decor will be for sale and there will be live music. Vendors include Oma’s Bread, Chop Finely, Cha Cha Chaga, DL Smithing, Hunt Utilities, For the Love of Goats and more. The marketplace is at 609 13th Ave. NE, Suite 8, Little Falls.

Sprout’s mission is to promote the health, economy and self-reliance of central Minnesota by facilitating the availability of locally produced food and artworks in the region.

Mount Ski Gull offers snowboard camp

Learn the basics of snowboarding or advance existing skills as Mount Ski Gull offers a Snowboard Camp during the holidays. The snowboard camp is planned 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 28-29 at Mount Ski Gull. Go to http://www.mountskigull.com for more information. The two-day camp is for children age 6-15. Cost is $90.00 with $10.00 off for season pass holders. Camp fees include rental equipment and lift tickets each day, if needed. Scholarships are available by request. Requests must be submitted two weeks prior to camp. Register early as equipment sizing is limited. An equipment pre-fitting session is planned 5-7 p.m. Dec. 27.

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S6 Thursday, November 24, 2016

HOLIDAY GUIDE 2016

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Christmas in the Park in Crosby

CROSBY — Celebrate the fellowship of the Christmas season during the Cuyuna Lakes Chamber of Commerce’s Christmas in the Park.

The event will be 4-7 p.m. Dec. 7. Join friends and neighbors at the Crosby Memorial Park for an evening including a live nativity, horse-drawn sleigh rides, live reindeer, craft projects for the kids and live entertainment.

Warm-up tents or bonfires will be available along with free soup, cookies and hot chocolate. Santa and Mrs. Claus will also be on hand, so bring cameras and have wish lists ready.

Many hearts and hands are needed to create a celebration of this size. There are many volunteer and sponsorship opportunities available. Contact the chamber office at 218-546-8131 to volunteer or become a sponsor.

This is a free community event and another initiative of the Cuyuna Lakes Chamber.

Go to www.cuyunalakes.com for additional information.

Cuyuna Lakes serves up soup walk, prizes Soup’s on in the Cuyuna Lakes — join the businesses that are cooking up their favorite soups to share from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 10 during the eighth annual Cuyuna Lakes Chamber Soup Walk.

Stop in, sample free homemade soups, register for prizes, vote for your favorite and build your own cookbook.

Come with your friends for a free lunch and collect all the recipe cards. As always the communities that make up the Cuyuna Lakes invite you to Shop Christmas in the Cuyuna Lakes and enjoy the great value and convenience of hometown shopping.

For more information, visit www.cuyunalakes.com or call 218-546-8131.

Blinky pins to highlight Cuyuna Lakes holiday

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Most salons independently owned and operated. © 2016 Fantastic Sams Franchise Corporation. www.FantasticSams.com

When you shop in the Cuyuna Lakes this holiday season, local merchants will be looking to see if you are “blinky.” The Cuyuna Lakes business community is excited to present a holiday season filled with hometown spirit and finding the joy in shopping locally.

Starting Nov. 25, businesses will be selling blinky pins to provide discounts, raffles, gifts and promotions to all who wear the blinky pin into their establishment. The promotion will run until Christmas Eve. The pins will be on sale as long as supplies last, so purchase your pins early and visit the businesses in the Cuyuna Lakes. Promote shopping locally. Pins will be sold for $5.

For more information or to request a flyer of participating business locations, contact the Cuyuna Lakes Chamber at 218-546-8131.

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HOLIDAY GUIDE 2016

Thursday, November 24, 2016 S7

Live Nativity returns to Pillager

PILLAGER — See the Nativity scene complete with live camels, sheep and donkeys in the third annual drive-thru event in Pillager.

The Nativity is planned from 6-8:30 p.m. Dec. 14-15 at the Cass County Fairgrounds in Pillager.

It takes about 10-15 minutes to drive through the Nativity, depending on the traffic. The complete Christmas story is portrayed in live drama and people never have to leave their vehicles. Admission is free. A donation bucket is provided at the end of the drive-thru. The event is sponsored by the churches of Pillager and coordinated by the Casino Assembly of God of Pillager.

For more information, call Sue Van Hall at 218-821-2276.

Top - A Nativity scene with Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus and a wise man plays out during the live drive-thru Nativity in Pillager held mid-December put on by Pillager churches Casino Assembly of God, First Baptist Church, First Lutheran Church and Eden Church.

Kelly Humphrey, Brainerd Dispatch Left - A wise man stands by his camel during the live drive-thru Nativity in Pillager held midDecember put on by Pillager churches Casino Assembly of God, First Baptist Church, First Lutheran Church and Eden Church. The live camels were there courtesy of Safari North.

(Kelly Humphrey, Brainerd Dispatch)

Learn to ski or improve skills during holiday vacation

Enjoy winter and holiday time off learning the basics of snow skiing or advancing skills by attending a two-day camp for children ages 5-15 years at Mount Ski Gull. Choose from two camps or attend both. Camp one is 9 a.m. to noon, Dec. 26-27. Camp two is 9 a.m. to noon, Dec. 30-31. Cost is $90 with $10 off for season pass holders.

The camp fees include rental equipment and lift tickets each day, if needed, Mount Ski Gull reported. Adaptive skiing services and scholarships are available by request. Requests must be submitted two weeks prior to camp. In addition, equipment pre-fitting is set from 5-7 p.m. Dec. 23 for those in camp one and 5-7 p.m. Dec. 29 for those in camp two.

Horse’n Around Christmas parade planned

HARDING — Harding will host its Horse’n Around Christmas Parade on Main Street in Harding beginning at 5 p.m.

Guests may enjoy hot dogs and beverages. Equine teams from around the state will gather together to light up their way as they go through town.

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November 26 to December 24 • 11 am to 2 pm

S8 Thursday, November 24, 2016

HOLIDAY GUIDE 2016

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Madrigal Dinner planned at Legacy

The seventh annual Christmas Madrigal Dinner presented by the Brainerd High School A Cappella and Windfall Choirs takes place over three nights in December. The dinners will begin with a social at 6 p.m. Dec. 1-3 at Cragun’s Legacy Golf Course Clubhouse Pavilion on Highway 77 in Brainerd. The clubhouse can seat 200 guests per night. Tickets are $35 and are available at the BHS main office or by calling 218-454-6200. All seats are reserved for meal planning purposes. All proceeds from the event support the choir program.

Brian Stubbs is the director of the BHS choirs where there are more than 60 students in the high school program, who will be dressed in medieval costumes and will start adding “thees” and “thous” to their vocabulary as they welcome guests back to a time of feasting and festival for the dinner.

The event is divided into four parts: Welcoming guests and “Wassail” social in the Legacy Lodge; a fourcourse feast served in the main hall; entertainment by the court jester and cast; and the concert of familiar Christmas carols as the choir surrounds the audience. Stubbs said every year the script is different, so no show will ever be the same. All the scripts revolve around a common format, but the entertainment and song selection is not repeated.

Stubbs said the choir program is grateful to Cragun’s as the business has donated its space for the dinner show for years. The proceeds earned from the dinner will pay for the scripts and costumes for the show, used for scholarships and will support upcoming trips and activities that the choir students attend.

This was the cast in last year’s annual Christmas Madrigal Dinner presented by the Brainerd High School A Cappella and Windfall Choirs.

This year’s dinner is scheduled Dec. 1-3 at Cragun’s Legacy Golf Course Clubhouse Pavilion on Highway 77 in Brainerd.

Brainerd Dispatch Photo

Tonic Sol-fa coming to Brainerd

Central Lakes College is hosting a capella trio Tonic Sol-fa as part of its Community Performing Arts Center Cultural Arts Series. The concert is 7:30-9:30 p.m. Dec. 10 at Tornstrom Auditorium, 804 Oak St., Brainerd. Tickets are $20 for adults and $16 for those under the age of 18. The event is sponsored by Essentia Health.

Tonic Sol-fa has established itself not only as the most in-demand vocal group in the Midwest, but also one of the most successful independent acts in America, the group’s website notes. Tonic Sol-fa began at St. John’s University and includes lead vocalist Shaun Johnson, tenor and vocal percussionist, Greg Bannwarth, and bass, Jared Dove.

The Central Lakes Community Performing Arts Center at CLC is a regional provider of artistic learning opportunities and cultural enrichment through the performance of musical and dramatic arts. Visiting guest artists are showcased as part of the Tonic Sol-fa members Shaun Johnson, Greg Bannwarth Cultural Arts Series, with events on campus and, on occasion, at Tornstrom Auditorium. Visit www.clcmn.edu/arts for more and Jared Dove.

Submitted photo information.

Toys For Kids donations and families in need being sought

This year marks the 35th year of the local Toys for Kids program that provides Christmas gifts for southern Crow Wing County families.

The program officially begins Nov. 25 with the annual kickoff event in the parking lot of the Brainerd Chamber of Commerce and Ace Hardware in west Brainerd. Donations will be received 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. by the Heartland Detachment of the Marine Corps League, which has sponsored this program since the beginning. Toy donations will be accepted at more than 50 drop-off sites in the area until Dec. 15, the day toy distribution will be made to families at the Brainerd Armory.

Mail monetary gifts to: TFK, Heartland Detachment, Marine Corps League, P.O. Box 2811, Baxter, MN 56425. Heartland Detachment, Toys For Kids has no affiliation with the national “Toys For Tots” program. All monies donated to the local Toys Steve Amerud, Chairman of Toys for Kids and Diana For Kids program are spent locally. Last year, the economic impact of the area was about $40,000.

Fox, volunteer, sort through the hundreds of toys at the Approximately 100 businesses and organizations support the program through collection of toys and financial donations. In National Guard Armory.

2015, through the generosity of this local community, more than 1,100 boys and girls through 15 years of age from about 485 Steve Kohls/Brainerd Dispatch families residing in southern Crow Wing County were able to receive Christmas gifts. This year, the program may again have a larger number of recipients, meaning a higher demand for community donations and volunteers. The Toys For Kids program is administered in cooperation with the local Salvation Army. It is supported solely by financial and toy donations from the community.

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Santa to arrive at Crosslake Dam; Christmas for Kids fundraiser set Dec. 3

CROSSLAKE — The holiday season in Crosslake is gearing up with a weekend of fun for the entire family. On Saturday, Dec. 3, shoppers will be able to look for gifts from Crosslake retailers offering refreshments, deals, discounts, gift wrapping and more. Santa will be at the U.S. Army Corps Campgrounds from 1-4 p.m. Dec. 3, where participants may enjoy a horse-drawn sleigh ride, sip hot cider, warm up near the campfire with s’mores, and more.

Go to http://www.crosslake.com, for more information.

Christmas for Kids Bring a new unwrapped gift donation to Christmas for Kids, the 10th annual fundraiser at Maucieri’s Italian Bistro. The event is 4-7 p.m. Dec. 3.

Those attending are asked to bring a new unwrapped gift or cash and they will receive one free beverage. Vendors will have items for sale, as well as a silent and live auction. One hundred percent of funds raised will go to help provide Christmas gifts and meals to local families, organizers reported.

Schaefer’s Foods to host 20th annual Taste of the Holidays Dec. 1

Schaefer’s Foods of Nisswa will host its 20th annual Taste of the Holidays from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1.

Taste of the Holidays participants will sample food and beverage items from every grocery department, including deli, produce, meat, dairy and bakery.

A minimum donation of $5 per person is requested, and all funds will be donated to support Kids Against Hunger-Brainerd Lakes Area in Nisswa, a nonprofit humanitarian food-aid organization.

Kids Against Hunger packages highly nutritious, life-saving meals for starving and malnourished children and their families in developing countries and the United States. The organization’s goal is for its meals to provide a stable nutritional base from which recipient families can move their families from starvation to self-sufficiency.

Kids Against Hunger is a 100 percent volunteer organization; all the food is purchased through donations and packed by volunteers. To learn more about Kids Against Hunger-Brainerd Lakes Area, visit kidsagainsthungermn.org.

Schaefer’s Foods is at the corner of Highway 371 and County Road 13 in Nisswa. For more information, contact the store at 218-963-2265 or visit www.SchaefersFoods. com.

Crosslake Santa’s Breakfast

The Crosslake-Fifty Lakes American Legion Auxiliary will host the annual Santa’s Breakfast from 9-11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 26, at the Legion for area families.

Santa will be on hand to listen to all Christmas wishes and present each child with a bag of goodies provided by the Auxiliary. There will be a free fishpond for children fish for prizes.

A pancake and egg breakfast will be served. Cost is $7 for adults, $4 for children ages 4-10, and free for children ages 3 and under.

Proceeds are used to support Auxiliary programs that benefit veterans.

Jenkins tree lighting set for Dec. 2

The ninth annual tree lighting ceremony in Jenkins will be Dec. 2 at Veterans Park. From 5-6:30 p.m., food and beverages will be served. Hayrides with caroling will be from 5-6:30 p.m. The tree lighting ceremony will be at 5:30 p.m. There will be hot dogs, cookies and hot cider.

Crosslake craft bazaar

The Crosslake-Fifty Lakes American Legion Auxiliary will host its annual craft bazaar and scholarship fundraiser Saturday, Dec. 3, at the legion.

There will be a cookie walk, bake sale, soup luncheon, crafters and a raffle. All proceeds go toward the Auxiliary’s scholarship fund. Entry is free.

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Disabled veterans’ group seeks holiday donations

Homeless and Wounded Warriors-MN is seeking donations for its upcoming holiday giveaways for disabled veterans.

The organization adopted disabled veteran families with small children for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. Organizer Steve Eisenreich said in a news release the organization adopted a local family for Christmas two years ago, and communities and individuals responded very generously. “So far, we have adopted two (for Christmas),” Eisenreich stated.

“One family is a single parent with a son, age 9, and a 5-year-old daughter. The other is a two-parent family with three little girls, ages 11, 7 and 3. Because both these families are headed by totally disabled veterans, and must depend on VA (Department of Veteran Affairs) compensation for their living, their finances are thin.” The organization adopted two families for Thanksgiving and collected food for two complete meal baskets.

Donations of new toys, clothes and cash for Christmas are now being accepted, along with food donations of nonperishable items. The donations may be dropped off at the Brainerd Dispatch, Crosslake American Legion Post 500, Bridge Tavern, Garrison VFW Post 1816, Jenkins VFW Post 3839, the Crosby-Ironton Courier office or Emily Meats. Ham and turkey gift cards, as well as cash donations are welcome.

“Please help us serve our area’s most vulnerable veterans and their families over this season of thanks and charitable giving,” the release stated. Nominating a veteran family to receive holiday donations may be done until Dec. 14 by calling or emailing. To nominate or for more information on these two donation drives, contact Eisenreich of Crosslake at 320-267-0376; Randy Haag, Crosby, at 218-820-9845; Russell Philstrom, Emily, at 651-329-1373; or Crystal Addison, Pequot Lakes, at 218-851-1052. The email address is vvzt013@ hotmail.com.

Christmas for Vets to place wreaths

The Christmas for Vets organization will honor all veterans in local cemeteries with the placement of Christmas wreaths. The organization is in its third year and has expanded wreath placement to five cemeteries: Our Savior’s Lutheran, Pequot Lakes City Cemetery, Jenkins, Kedron and Stoney Brook. Over 300 veterans will be honored. Wreaths will be placed on the graves at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3. The organization is asking for anyone wishing to volunteer to help with the wreath placement to meet at the parking lot behind Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Pequot Lakes at that time or contact Cathy Malecha at 218-821-0450.

A program to officially dedicate the wreaths will be in conjunction with the Pequot Lakes Chamber’s Light Up the Town Parade on Saturday, Dec. 10. The ceremony will be 5 p.m. in the Trailside Park gazebo. A large wreath will be placed in honor of all veterans at the Veterans Memorial in Trailside Park.

Christmas for Vets is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization. Several nearby cities contacted the organization for assistance in bringing this honorary event to other communities and began working closely with the organization in hopes of expanding the Christmas for Vets program to all small communities statewide. Locally, it takes many volunteers to assist with the program and anyone wanting to volunteer their time would be deeply appreciated. Funding for Christmas for Vets is provided by families of veterans buried in the cemeteries. Letters are sent to known family members with a suggested donation of $15 for the wreath and stake. However, this does not cover the costs for those veterans without family.

The local business community and other nonprofit organizations have generously donated funds to buy wreaths for these veterans. Christmas for Vets’ goal is to honor all veterans within the cemeteries regardless of family ties or ties to local veteran organizations. If there are any unknown veterans who have not been identified through local records, the organization asks for the public’s help for further information. Anyone wishing to donate to Christmas for Vets can send checks to: Christmas for Vets, 30966 Old Highway 371, No. 205, Pequot Lakes, MN 56472. All donations are appreciated and are tax-deductible.

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Pine River Parade of Lights is Dec. 10 The annual Pine River Parade of Lights is slated for 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10. A progressive Shop Local Day will occur Saturday, Dec. 3, to kick off the Parade of Lights week.

The chamber is accepting donations for a fireworks display that will take place after the parade Dec. 10. Donations can be sent to the Pine River Chamber, P.O. Box 131, Pine River, MN 56474 or dropped off at the Chamber Information Center. The cost of the fireworks this year is $3,500. Without covering the cost, the fireworks will not take place.

The theme for this year’s parade is “Forest Friends” and two $100 Chamber gift certificates will be awarded to the parade units judged Best Use Of Lights In Theme and Best Overall Use of Lights.

An open house at the Pine River Information Center will follow the parade featuring Christmas cookies, hot chocolate and hot apple cider. A holiday bonfire will take place just south of the historic Pine River Railroad Depot and the fireworks are scheduled at 6:30 p.m.

Free horse-drawn wagon rides will take place downtown with pickup and dropoff at the Pine River Legion from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Legion will also sponsor its annual Lunch With Santa from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be numerous open houses at businesses throughout the week before the Parade of Lights Day, and a progressive drawing will begin the week at participating businesses on Saturday, Dec. 3.

Also Saturday, Dec. 3, the American Legion’s annual Arts & Crafts Sale Day will be 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Legion, and First Lutheran Church will host its annual Cookie Walk from 9 a.m. to noon.

The Paws, Claws & Hooves 4-H Club won Best Use of Lights in Theme at the Pine River Parade of Lights on Saturday, Dec. 12. The theme was Northern Lights.

Photo by Nancy Vogt Halle Milham, left, and Rylie Hirschey serve nachos at the Pine River Information Center on Saturday, Dec. 12, after the Parade of Lights. The First Lutheran Church confirmation group also sold hot dogs.

Photo by Nancy Vogt

Wreaths to honor fallen veterans

LITTLE FALLS — Veterans buried at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery near Little Falls will again be honored with wreaths this December.

Baxter-based organization WreathsForTheFallen.org organizes a National Remembrance Ceremony each year at the cemetery, endeavoring to “honor all our country’s fallen veterans,” a news release stated.

The ceremony will be 11 a.m. Dec. 17 at the cemetery located at 15550 Highway 115, Little Falls. Many volunteers from Camp Ripley, the Minnesota Patriot Guard, Minnesota Civil Air Patrol, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legions, and other civic organizations along with hundreds of families will place the wreaths on the grave sites. Everyone is invited to come and assist in the wreath distribution.

Organizers suggested attendees plan to arrive before 10 a.m. Hot coffee, hot cider and other refreshments will be offered. The ceremony starts at 11 a.m. sharp, with wreath placement beginning at about 11:20 a.m.

Due to the limited parking at the cemetery, carpooling is recommended.

With almost 500 additional interments at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in the last year, the challenge for WreathsForTheFallen.org to honor all the country’s fallen veterans is greater than ever, the release stated.

Visit www.wreathsforthefallen.org to make a donation to the organization. Sponsorships of wreaths for specific veterans are also offered. To have a personal wreath handmade and included in the event, send the following to WreathsForTheFallen.org: • Name, • Address, • Phone number (in case of questions), • Full name and date of birth of veteran(s), • A minimum of $15 for each wreath requested.

The information should be sent to 5244 Ashdale Lane, Baxter, MN, 56425. Make checks out to “Wreaths.”

All contributions are tax-deductible.

WreathsForTheFallen.org will be expanding this year with the addition of the new veterans cemetery in Preston. This addition will require many additional wreaths and donations to support those wreaths.

For additional information, visit www.wreathsforthefallen.org or contact John Thomas at 218-829-6622.

Baxter Sandpiper 4H club member Morgan Bock searches for a grave without a wreath during the National Remembrance Ceremony at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery near Camp Ripley.

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Volunteers Sarah and Ted Erickson make sure every family who sponsored a wreath received one on the graves at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery near Camp Ripley. After the National Remembrance Ceremony wreaths were placed on 4,198 graves by the Wreaths for the Fallen Organization volunteers.

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