Month: May 2024

Our Savior’s Lutheran School will be having its annual Spring Musical on Wednesday, May 8, at 1:30 pm and 7 pm.  This year, the title is “A Not So Terrible Parable.”  All productions will be held in the sanctuary of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, and all are welcome to attend!

Our Savior’s Lutheran School is holding an online auction fundraiser again this spring.  Bidding will run from Sunday, May 5 (starting at 9am) through Sunday, May 12 (ending at 6pm).  Many fun items have been donated by local businesses and families – you can check out all of the available items and place your bids here:  www.32auctions.com/OSLS2024

 

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University of Minnesota Crookston (UMC) agriculture and natural resources students participated in the 2024 North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) Judging Conference in mid-April in Twin Falls, Idaho, and brought home the sweepstakes trophy for a second year in a row. UMC also received first-place wins as a team in agriculture education and natural resources contests; second place wins as a team in agriculture business, equine management, and dairy judging, and third-place wins as a team in livestock management and livestock judging.

Individual placements include a first-place win in natural resources by Courtney Vatnsdal, plus second-place wins in agriculture education (Vatnsdal) and natural resources by Annette Drayna.

NACTA advisor Theresa Helgeson, who is also an instructor and lab services coordinator on campus, and chaperone Marina Wiley, accompanied the 20 students to Idaho. Students who competed in the 2024 conference included NACTA co-chairs Lindsey Espeseth, Sierra Heinz, and Jenna Kruger, plus Amber Cymbaluk, Annette Drayna, Eliza Freund, Melissa Hammer, Katherine Hansen, Katherine Hills, Victoria Johnson, Lily Krona, Katelyn Larson, Gracie Lunsetter, Katelyn Mack, Elizabeth Reich, Kaitlyn Rux, Evan Singsank, Courtney Vatnsdal, Christopher Veres, and Kloe Wadd.

“We took home the Sweepstakes Award for the second year in a row!” exclaimed Espeseth, a senior from Erskine. who is majoring in animal science. “Thank you so much to faculty, staff, and community members for all of the support that allowed us to compete and represent the University of Minnesota Crookston.”

UMC has been competing in NACTA, a judging conference open to all two-year and four-year schools that have an institutional membership, since the 1980s and have raised funds each year to attend. Their annual car washes are popular with faculty, staff, and the community, which allows students to make the trip that includes sightseeing. In 2024, students and chaperones were able to visit Sawtooth National Forest, watch people base-jumping, explore hot springs, and visit Shoshone Falls.

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The Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, in conjunction with the Golden Link Senior Center and Lake Agassiz Regional Library, will hold a Senior Resource Fair on Thursday, May 9, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Crookston Public Library.

This event will give local seniors the opportunity to discover the many resources available in the area and browse over 15 vendors who will share how their organization can enhance your life. The vendors will include AARP, Alluma, Altru Health System, Benedictine Living Community-Crookston, Crookston Public Library, Dancing Sky Area Agency on Aging, Family Resource Center, Housing and Redevelopment Authority, Justice Bus in the parking lot, New Hope Food Shelf, Options RCIL, Polk County Historical Society, Polk County Public Health, Polk County Social Services, Riverview Health System, RSVP, Sentence to Serve/Chore Service Program, and Tri-Valley Opportunity Council.

Tri-Valley Senior Programs Manager Alicia Berhow believes this event will help seniors recognize all the resources and opportunities available within Crookston and Northwest Minnesota. “They will get a better understanding of what’s available in communities for them,” said Berhow, “There really hasn’t been a great one-stop shop for something like that, and that was our hope when putting this together.”

Those who attend will also have the chance to take a trip down memory lane by visiting Carnegie Library. The Historical Society will have the Carnegie open for visitors during the event, which could attract some tourist attention. “The Historical Society owns the Carnegie next door, and that’s one of our biggest questions,” said Crookston Librarian Paula Ous, “People and visitors that come in want to know about the Carnegie and want to go inside. So they will open the Carnegie during the event from 1-3 p.m.” Those who wish to go inside the historic building will also be able to talk to a tour guide who can answer questions and give walk-through tours of the facility.

Along with being able to visit the wonderful vendors, a representative from D&D Thomforde Garden Center will demonstrate how to create container gardens. The finished container gardens will be given away as door prizes, and a drawing will be held at the close of the Senior Resource Fair.

The Golden Link Senior Center will offer a meal and a Historical Tour of Crookston before the fair begins. Attendees can meet at the library at 11:15 a.m. for a ride on THE BUS to the Golden Link for a $5 Sloppy Joe basket meal before heading on the tour of Crookston. After the tour the bus will bring folks back to the library at 1:00 p.m. for the start of the Senior Resource Fair.

Both Ous and Berhow believe there are many incentives and benefits in attending the resource fair and that the information gathered can help improve lives in Crookston and the region. “I think just getter a better knowledge base of what Crookston has to offer,” said Berhow, “And I think it goes bigger than that. County level, regional level, most places have a pretty large outreach for their services, but I also think this is going to be big on ‘need’ we have a lot to offer, but there’s a lot of needs as well, and that will be something that will be highlighted.”

This event is free to attend for seniors. For more information about the event, click here.

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Thousands of Minnesota students are gearing up to for Bike to School Day on Wednesday, May 8, and the Minnesota Department of Transportation encourages more schools to get involved.

More than 150 Minnesota schools have signed up to participate. Bike to School Day is a healthy way to promote safe biking and walking activities in an academic setting. Each year, this event is sponsored by MnDOT and Minnesota Safe Routes to School.

There are a variety of ways that students and families can join in the fun. They can bike or walk to school directly from home, join a “walking school bus” a few blocks from school, or have their parents drop them off a few blocks away so they can get the experience of pedaling to school with their friends.

It all counts – studies have shown that physical activity can improve children’s physical health, mental health, and academic performance. “We know students do better in school when they add physical activities to their day,” said Kelly Corbin, MnDOT Safe Routes to School coordinator. “This event promotes safety skills that students can use throughout their lives.”

Schools can still register for events. Additional materials are available online to support year-round walking and biking activities. More information is available at mndot.gov/saferoutes

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Trinity Lutheran Church in Crookston will have 2 worship services today, and one at 1^st Presbyterian Church. Trinity will have regular worship at 9:00 a.m. followed by J.A.M. at 10:10 a.m., there will also be an 11:00 a.m. Confirmation Worship Service.  There will still be the regular 10:45 a.m. worship service at 1^st Presbyterian Church.

There will be an Honor Flight Pancake Breakfast today, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Masonic Lodge at 112 West Robert in downtown Crookston. The menu will be pancakes, French toast, waffles, sausage and fruit. Gluten-free will be available. It’s a free-will offering, and proceeds will go to Honor Flight Grand Forks/Fargo.  

Our Savior’s Lutheran School is holding an online auction fundraiser this spring.  Bidding will run today, starting at 9:00 a.m. through Sunday, May 12, ending at 6:00 p.m.

Beginning Monday, May 6, City Hall will be working summer hours from
7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.  

The Crookston Eagles Club will serve $8 Burger Baskets on Monday, May 6, from 5:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Following this, at 7:00 p.m., they will host a Smear Tournament. 

The Crookston Eagles Club will host the Aerie meeting as well as the Auxiliary meeting on Tuesday, May 7 at 7:00 p.m.

The Crookston Continuing Education Committee will meet on Wednesday, May 8.  All Continuing Education paperwork for re-licensure can be submitted to the Crookston District Office. 

Our Savior’s Lutheran Church School will present the musical A Not So Terrible Parable, the mysterious whodunit about the good Samaritan, on Wednesday, May 8, at 1:30 and 7:00 p.m. 

The Golden Link will have a Meal and Historical Tour of Crookston on May 9. Meet at the Crookston Library at 11:15 a.m. for a ride on THE BUS to the Golden Link and enjoy a $5 sloppy joe basket meal and then take a historical tour of Crookston,  returning by 1:00 p.m.  Register for the meal by calling 281-3072.

A Senior Resource Fair will be held at the Crookston Public Library on Thursday, May 9, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Discover the many resources for area seniors and browse over 15 vendors who will share how their organization can enhance your life.  A representative from D & D Thomforde Garden Center will demonstrate how to create container gardens. The finished container gardens will be given away as door prizes at the close of the Senior Resource Fair.

Cathedral School in Crookston will have its Spring Program, “The Agape League,” on Thursday, May 9, at 1:00 pm & 6:30 pm in the church (702 Summit Ave). This is a superhero musical about the fruit of the spirit! All are welcome to attend! After the program, there will be treats in the Dining Room. 

RiverView Health will be offering a CPR class on Thursday, May 9, from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the RiverView Home Care Building, 721 South Minnesota Street in Crookston. The cost is $55 for those needing certification, and for those not needing certification, the class is free. To register, call 218-281-9536. No walk-ins will be allowed.

The Crookston Eagles Club will host Bar Bingo with a progressive jackpot at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 9. The kitchen will also serve baskets. 

The Crookston Eagles Club will host Bar Bingo with a $500 must-go jackpot at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, May 10. The kitchen will also serve baskets.

The Crookston Eagles Club will host Bar Bingo with a $400 must-go jackpot at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 11.

There will be a free car seat checkup on Monday, May 13, from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. at Tri-Valley Head Start located at 1407 Erskine Street in Crookston. A  certified child passenger safety technician will check your seats for correct installation. It’s a free event, and no appointment is needed.

Washington School School Readiness and ECFE families, along with Washington staff and families, will celebrate together at a fun End of the Year Picnic on Monday, May 13, from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. Washington School.  This event offers great food and family fun.  In the event of rain, activities will be held inside.

Attention Business Owners & Crookston High School Students! Crookston Public Schools and the City of Crookston are hosting a Student Job Fair on Wednesday, May 15, from 4:30 pm-6:30 pm. This event is an opportunity for students to learn about job/career opportunities in Crookston, as well as an opportunity for Crookston business owners to talk with Crookston High School students about their open positions. Businesses sign up by emailing kdevier@crookston.mn.us

United Valley Bank in Crookston invites everyone in for Kay Waller’s Retirement Open House on Friday, May 17, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. as she is retiring after 25 years.

The Gala for Girls, for girls in grades K-6, will be Friday, May 17, from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the Crookston Inn. Bring your dad, grandpa, uncle, or adult male role model. The event includes a professional picture, a social and sit-down dinner, a special gift, and an evening of dancing. Registration will be open until filled; pre-registration is required. The cost to attend is $45 per couple ($15 for each additional girl). Registration forms are available at  https://www.co.polk.mn.us/191/Public-Health or at Polk County Public Health, 816 Marin Ave, Crookston, MN 218-281-3385.

Join Alluma for Alluma Night on Tuesday, May 21, at 4:30 p.m. at the Northland Community and Technical College in East Grand Forks.  This free community event will be a family-friendly space to connect and experience different ways to heal, cope, and care for your mental health. Transportation will be available from Crookston via T.H.E. Bus. For more details, visit  allumacares.org/allumanight

Crookston native Tim Madigan, a New York Times author, playwright, and journalist, will present the theatrical play “I’m Proud of You” and his personal connection with TV icon Fred Rogers on Thursday, June 27, at L’ Homme Dieu Theatre in Alexandria. Bus transportation will be provided free courtesy of Crookston Community Theatre. Tickets for the play are $35 and are limited to 30. Registration deadline is June 1. Contact the Golden Link at 218-281-3072 or Scott Kleven at 218-329-0496.

The Harvest Church in Crookston will have their Vacation Bible School June 10-12 from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. for K through grade 5. The cost is free. For more information and to register, call 281-2264.

The Mark Olsonawski Scholarship Golf Tournament will be held Thursday, June 6, in Hallock at Two Rivers Golf Course, and the UMC Teambacker Golf Classic on  Friday, June 14, at Minakwa Golf Course in Crookston. UMC Teambackers host both tournaments and raise funds for Golden Eagle Athletics. To learn more or register a team, use these links: https://z.umn.edu/olsonawski24 and https://z.umn.edu/umcgolf24.

The Trinity Lutheran Church in Crookston will host a Rhubarb Festival on Thursday, June 13, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

CONTINUING ANNOUNCEMENTS 

Twig and Branch Collection will be held on the second and fourth Mondays of each month, running from May through October. Place the materials on your curbside. Branches must be cut in four-foot lengths and bundled in order for the crews to take them away. Any branches or tree trunks not cut to this length and bundled will be left for the owner to haul away. Twigs may be in boxes or bags. Individuals removing their diseased elm trees should call City Hall to schedule pickup. Please note that leaves, grass, and other compostable material must be in the clear City of Crookston bags and will be collected on your regular garbage collection day.

Crookston Community Pool Hours Monday through Friday are Lap Swim from  6:00 to 9:00 a.m.  Aqua Aerobics from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and Lap and Open Swim from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. There’s Open Swim on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and Party Rental Black from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. The pool is closed on Sunday.  Open swim, Aqua Aerobics, and Lap Swim are $5 per person for each one. There is a $36-a-month Aqua and Lap Membership. For more information, call 218-281-1242.

DNR Hunter Safety Traning for ages 11 and older will take place on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays beginning May 7. The classes will be held at the Crookston Gun Club. To register, contact Youth Activities Coordinator Steve Videen at 218-289-2115 or by email at stevevideen@yahoo.com

As the Crookston Care and Share expands its women’s dormitories are in need of twin bed frames, dressers, lamps, and end tables. Donate: call 218-281-2644.

The Crookston Squadron Civil Air Patrol meets every Sunday at 2:00 p.m. Call 218-281-3954 for more information.

Parents of children are invited to register their children for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. The program provides one book every month to your child for FREE from when you enroll until they turn five. Crookston Public School manages the program, and you can register at www.ImaginationLibrary.com.

The Crookston Care and Share is now accepting donations for women’s, men’s, and children’s clothing, toiletries, and other everyday items. Donations may be dropped off at the Care and Share Center at 220 East Third Street or call 281-2644. The Donation Room is open Mondays and Wednesdays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. and Fridays from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.

Polk County Family Resource Center  Spring activities are on the fourth Monday of the month from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Crookston Public Library. Plant flowers and veggies and take home your own mini pot. All supplies and snacks are provided.

Polk County Public Health and ECFE will host a Newborn Baby Talk event for parents with babies newborn to 12 weeks every Tuesday from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. at the Crookston Public Library. There will be 2-12 week sessions. January 9-March 26, and April 2-June 18. A public health nurse, parent educator, and lactation specialist will be available to answer questions about your newborn and provide support and information on your journey of parenting. A facilitated discussion will cover feeding, attachment, sleep, development, family changes, and returning to work. You can have your baby weighed too.

Every Tuesday (except for Federal Holidays), The Crookston Public Library will host New Born Baby Talk from 9:30 am. to 11:00 a.m. This is for parents with babies 0-12 weeks old. A public health nurse, parent educator, and lactation specialist will be available to answer questions about your newborn and provide support and information on your new journey of parenting.

The Crookston Public Library’s Books & Brews Book Club meets on the fourth Tuesday of every other month at 6:00 p.m. at Drafts Sports Bar and Grill. They will discuss books and enjoy beverages. Appetizers are provided by the Friends of the Crookston Public Library; participants are responsible for the cost of their food and drinks. All are welcome.

The Crookston Public Library’s Reading by the Red Book Club meets on the fourth Tuesday of every other month at 6:00 p.m. They will discuss books and enjoy beverages.

The Crookston Public Library will have StoryTime every Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

The Golden Link is serving noon lunch Monday through Friday. All are welcome to dine in between the hours of 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The Crookston Friends of the Library meet on the third Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m.

The Crookston Library Board meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 5:15 p.m.

The Cove Youth Center in Crookston is open Monday through Friday from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Students and parents should call ahead to check the availability of the youth center at 218-470-0149.

The Crookston Care and Share Center’s Donation and New Hope Food Shelf will be open every Monday and Wednesday from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. and every Friday from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. For more information or to donate, call 218-277-0000.

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 Northland Community and Technical College has been on a mission to find innovative and creative new ways to foster student success and expand access to affordable higher education. From launching an on-campus food pantry and its Northland Cares emergency resource fund to hosting free farmers markets and offering more flexible course delivery options, Northland is determined to eliminate barriers to student success one by one.

The college’s most recent effort, spearheaded by Northland President Dr. Sandy Kiddoo, is its new partnership with the Caring Campus initiative, a program run by the nonprofit Institute for Evidence-Based Change (IEBC). IEBC is an organization dedicated to helping education stakeholders ensure student connectedness, use actionable data to make informed decisions, and act to increase success for all students.

The mission aligns perfectly with Kiddoo’s students’ first goal of making academic success at Northland accessible and welcoming to all. The program cost, however, posed a challenge. 

“After I learned about Caring Campus from our student journey audit,” Kiddoo recalled, “I called Brad Phillips, the CEO of the IEBC, and learned how costly it was to participate in the program. After months of working on funding strategies, I learned the ECMC Foundation was going to sponsor a cohort of rural colleges for Caring Campus… so we went through the application process with Brad’s help and were fortunate enough to be selected to participate.”

The Caring Campus program coaches college faculty and staff to implement intentional and campus-wide behaviors that increase student engagement and connectedness, which lead to improvements in racial equity and increased student success for all.

“We are a campus that cares,” Kiddoo said, “and this effort provides additional training and support to organize further our efforts to support our students, who we know will stay where they feel welcome and supported.”

Mindy Rist, enrollment office coordinator, took on the role of program liaison for the initiative and has already begun organizing the first Northland staff, who are eager to participate.

“The ultimate goal is for our students to know we truly care about them,” Ri” t said. “Through a series of workshops, we will work together to brainstorm ideas to build what we’ve already accomplished for our “students.”

Data shows that students are far more likely to graduate if they feel connected to their IEBC institution; IEBCC’s data have shown demonstrable improvements in classroom success when colleges follow through with Caring Campus initiatives — course completion rates have improved by as much as 15 percent” t.

“Being in a rural region, we already have a sense of community in our daily lives,” es,” Rist sa” d, “which spills over into our professional lives. This initiative gives Northland a chance to enhance these traits on campus and allows us to be a good example for other institutions.”

Some spec “fic changes other colleges implement include simple steps like staff wearing name tags or welcoming students in parking lots during the first week of the semester. Kiddoo, with a growing track record of successful campus-wide initiatives, sees a natural symbiosis between Caring Campus and the many other programs recently implemented at Northland.

“Caring Campus complements ou” other student success projects by focusing on creating the experiences, environment, and culture where students feel like they belong,” Kiddoo said. “This project” blends nicely “with our other innovative efforts to support student success, such as the food pantry, the upcoming college garden, our farmer’s markets, emergency grants for students, and enhanced mental health services. We also recently added student-parent rooms, so students who are parents can bring their children to study on campus in a safe environment.”

Learn more about the Caring “Campus initiative here: www.iebcnow.org/caring-campus.

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