The annual Celebrate the Young at Art at the reception is Thurs, April 12, 3:30 at the Q Gallery at Franklin Arts Center. http://www.crossingarts.org/pages/CelebratetheYoungatArt2012/ The Crossing Arts Alliance planning and programming committee works with area schools to honor budding young artists and their creative endeavors. The exhibition runs Tues to Sat, 10 to 4 through April 20. A special thank you to Kate Carlson, who organizes this celebration.

Multi-talented Finnish storyteller and magician, Cheryl Sawyer, is coming to the Brainerd Public Library on Wednesday, April 11 at 3:30pm to share her stories and fun. She weaves in magic and balloon art making, and enthralls crowds of children of all ages with her skill at speaking Finnish. She infuses humor and creative sound effects in the story telling and draws you in to use your imagination.

I know I did it to my kids…and now I’m watching my daughter do it to hers. Those little white lies that don’t really seem to harm anything. I suppose we could get into an ethical debate about whether lying is ever acceptable, but sometimes the things I would tell my kids would cause hours of endless amusement – at least for me. The lifelong damage I did to them is fair game for what my parents (and grand parents) did to me. Pay it forward, right?

Composer Rick Sowash will visit the Brainerd Public Library on Tuesday, April 10 at 6:30pm. Sowash was commissioned by the Heartland Symphony Orchestra to write "North Country Suite" which will be premiered in Brainerd on Sunday, April 15 at 2:00pm at the Tornstrom Auditorium. Join us at the Brainerd Public Library on Tuesday, April 10 at 6:30pm as Rick gives us insight to how “North Country Suite" depicts the landscape and the character of the people of northern Minnesota. Rick will describe the five movements in “North Country Suite”:

I. Spirit of the North
II. Northern Lights