Around Our Region published May 4, 2022

Norway Lake: The Norway Lake Lutheran Historical Association will celebrate Syttende Mail at 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 13, at First Lutheran Church of Norway Lake, west of New London. Catered meatball supper with all the accompaniments including rommegrot, krumkake, lemon bars and more. Freewill offering. Entertainment by the Sound Image Quartet. RSVP via the association's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/nllha.org . All are welcome.

Milan: Milan will celebrate its Norwegian pioneer heritage with A Taste of Syttende Mai from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 14. The Kvitseid Church Smorgaas tea will be from 10 a.m to 1 p.m. The arts and craft vendors will set up at 10 a.m. with kids activities and music and entertainment begins at noon, in downtown Milan. The Uff-Da Parade on main street is at 2 p.m.

Sunburg: The 17th annual Syttende Mai celebration will be a full day of events Sunday, May 15. Hope Lutheran pancake breakfast, food stands at baseball field and tractor pull site, firemen’s supper. tractor pull, boutique at the Community Center, Sunburg Trolls Car Club car display, Sunburg Lakers baseball game, kids pedal tractor pull, Grand Day parade at 3:30 p.m. and more.

WILLMAR — The Willmar Community Center has several events set. All events are free unless noted. For reservations, call 320-262-5288 or go online at willmarparks-rec.com .

Willmar Area Senior Citizens Club: May 4, 2 p.m., freewill donation, music by John "A Frame" Beck

Friday afternoon of dancing: May 6, 1 to 4 p.m., $7 dancers, $2 listeners, music by Jerry's Band

Aging Wisely: May 5, 1:30 p.m., free. Talk by Jerrid Sebesta, from Taatjes Financial Group and co-founder of Retired Repurposed, is titled “Don’t retire, become repurposed.”

Make-and-take button bouquet: May 12, 2 p.m., $5. This colorful button bouquet will make the perfect pop of spring color, advance registration required.

Veterans coffee social: May 16, 9:30 to 11 a.m., open to all veterans, police, fire and emergency medical services members.

Community Kids: May 17, 2:30 p.m., $5, registration deadline May 13. Make a fun animal-themed craft before the Zoo Man arrives.

Zoo Man show: May 17, 4 p.m. Come see this traveling zoo show, freewill donation.

Put the “GRAND,” in Grandparent: May 18, 12:30 p.m., free. This informative session will leave you with tools to show your (great) grandkids how cool you are.
Make-and-take summer sign:

Make-and-take summer sign: May 19, 2:30 p.m. $32, D & H Design summer sign, all supplies provided. Advance registration required.

Cooking with Riley: May 21, 2 p.m., $20, advance registration required. Make Vietnamese Spring Roll & Carrot Salad, native to the Vietnamese culture.

Community board games: May 21, 2 p.m., free, all ages. Learn a new featured game, bring some friends, and play any available games in our library.

Jolly Twirlers Square Dance: May 21, 7 p.m., $5. All are welcome to join in this square dancing evening.

Community Center Book Club: May 23, 3:30 p.m. Join our Community Book Club for a discussion and new book picked each month.

Community bingo night: May 24, 5 to 7 p.m., $3 for the night; two cards per person.

Little Art Session: May 25, 2 to 5 p.m. Create art to be on display in our Little Art Galleries around Willmar, free.

Court Whist Tournament: May 26, 12:30 p.m., advance registration required, $2 entry fee.

Yahoo for Yahtzee: Every Monday, 12:30 p.m.

Let’s Draw Art Sketching Club: Mondays, 1 p.m., ages 12-100, $5 for 5 classes; a weekly art class that will go over the basics of drawing, sketching and painting with basic art supplies provided.

Check Mates Chess Club: Mondays 6 p.m. Whether you are advanced or just learning the game, we would love to have you join our club.

Hand & Foot Cards: Every Tuesday and Thursday, 12:30 p.m., free, popular variation of canasta, easy to learn.

Farkle Fridays: Every Friday, 1 to 4 p.m., all ages, a classic dice game to try and reach 10,000 points first. Each player will have their own cup and dice.

Exercise classes: Gently Yoga, Bone Builders, SAIL (Staying Active and Independent for Life), contact Community Center for details and prices.

Community puzzle exchange: Daily, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., drop off, pick up, or swap out a puzzle in our exchange program.

Woodshop: Open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, 6 to 9 p.m. Monday evenings. Advance registration required by calling 320-262-5288 . Cost is $5 for a daily pass, $25 for a three-month membership, and $60 yearly.

WILLMAR — The Willmar Library is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. The website is www.willmarpubliclibrary.org . Call 320-235-3162 . Curbside pickup remains available during regular hours. Programs are in person in the library. The WiFi can be accessed 24/7 from a parked car in the lot behind the library or in front of the building using your library card or through Overdrive.

Little People storytime: Every Wednesday, 10 a.m., ages 0-3, no registration required.

Wisdom & Wine: Tickets are available for $35 at the library and at willmarwisdomandwine.eventbrite.com for the Friends of the Willmar Public Library's June 9 Wisdom & Wine fundraising event featuring Minnesota authors, dessert and wine.

Lego Club: May 4, 4 to 5 p.m., kindergarten through sixth grade, no registration is necessary. Test your creativity and skills the first Wednesday of the month.

Early Readers Book Club: May 5, 4 p.m., for children who have graduated from storytime age, best for grades K-2, will read a story, discuss and do activities.

Children’s matinee: May 6, 4 p.m., no cost or registration, popcorn provided.

Teen hangout: May 11, 5:30 p.m., ages 12-18, no registration required, enjoy video games, arts and crafts, board and card games, snacks and beverages.

STEMtastic Thursday: May 12, 4 p.m., ages 7-12, dissecting flowers.

Teen Gaming Club: May 13, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., ages 12-18, no registration required. Play games on the Xbox One or board and card games. Some games are rated 13+.

Adult game night: May 17, 6 to 8 p.m. Invite your friends to play some of the library’s games or bring a favorite from home. Everyone 16 and over are welcome. No cost and no registration. Refreshments provided.

Teen movie: May 18, 5:30 p.m., ages 12-18, no registration required.

Adult Book Club: May 19, noon; book discussion upstairs at the library. New members are always welcome, meets every third Thursday.

Adult movie matinee: May 20, 2 p.m., no cost or registration, refreshments provided.

Dementia Friends: May 24, 2 p.m. All community members welcome to learn about dementia and turn that understanding into creating a dementia-friendly community.

Pajama-rama storytime: May 24, 6:30 p.m. Come in your pajamas, bring a blanket and listen to stories. Milk and cookies afterward before you head home to bed.

Craft & Coloring: May 25, 2 p.m., upstairs at the library. Bring any crafts or coloring you are working on or use the provided supplies for coloring and more. Every fourth Wednesday.

Children’s Pokémon terrariums: May 26, 5:30 p.m., ages 8-12, advance registration required on website. Build a habitat for a Pokémon inside a Pokémon ball.

Teen Book Club: May 27, 4 p.m., club discussion of this month’s book, in the multipurpose room, no registration necessary.

Teen Take & Make Crafts: May 9 opens for flower frame, and May 23 opens for pressed flower dish. For ages 12-18, limit one per person as supplies are limited. Sign up on the library website.

Adult make-and-take: Crafts are posted on the website as they are available. Mental health awareness kit opened May 2, kumihimo bracelets open May 16, and flower basket cross stitch opens May 31. Use the form on the website to reserve supplies to make your very own featured project. Once you have registered, library staff will call you or email you when it is ready to be picked up. Ages 18 and over.

Teen lit loot: Sign up and you will receive a library book based on your interests and a bag of goodies to go with it. One per month and will need to re-register each month. May’s theme is Under the Sea.

Book a librarian: Set up an hour long, one-on-one appointment with a librarian for help with computer skills, tablets, research and more. Appointments can be made in person, by calling 320-235-3162 or online library’s website under adult services.

Brainfuse HelpNow: Free online tutoring service, grades K-12, one-to-one live homework help from online tutors between 2 and 11 p.m. daily; English or Spanish; math, science, English/language arts, social studies and reading assistance; app available for mobile.  

Interactive movie kit: The interactive movie kits include a script along with props for up to six participants. Limit of one per week per household. Register on the library website. New titles each month.

Seed Library: Browse the seed library and or request seeds online on the library’s website under adult services.

BELGRADE — The Myrtle Mabee Library has the following events scheduled. The library phone number is 320-254-8842 .

R.E.A.D Book Club: May 16, 4 p.m. The club for adults will discuss a different book each month.

Story Stroll: May 21-31. Take a walk through the park while reading together. Story pages will be posted at Belgrade City Park off U.S. Highway 71 and Western Avenue.

Lorna Landvik: May 23, 4 p.m., adults. Join the author as she talks about her life as a writer and performer.

PAYNESVILLE — The Paynesville Public Library has the following events scheduled. The library phone number is 320-243-7343 .

Lorna Landvik: May 6, 5:30 p.m., adults. Join the author as she talks about her life as a writer and performer.

Story Stroll: May 21-31. Take a walk through the park while reading together. Story pages will be posted at Gazebo Park, 115 E. Main St.