Local briefs

STAPLES - Lakewood Health System will host Laugh and Live Well, a Women's Health Expo, planned from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Central Lakes College in Staples.

This public event will feature a day of health, wellness and fun for women - including free gift bags for the first 350 people - exhibitions, health screenings, prizes and food. Sessions are designed to appeal to multi-generations. Various exhibitors throughout the regional area will be present.

Breakout sessions will include: Eating Disorders by Justina Richter of Lakes Area Eating Disorders Group; Cooking with Kids by Chef & Company; Laugh Yoga by Bev Nelsen, registered nurse at Lakewood Health System; Health Supplements by Colleen Crider of Juice Plus; Make It Happen: Women & Investing by Greg Bennett of Edward Jones; Step Up to the Plate in 2008! by the Diabetes Resource Center at Lakewood Health System; Heart to Heart: Answers to Your Embarrassing Questions by Dr. Carol Uhlman, OB/GYN at Lakewood Health System.

Peggy Kline, a nationally known speaker and humorist, who specializes in nurturing the needs of women with her upbeat message of hope, will be the keynote speaker for the day. Kline's message includes "be sure to take care of yourself, while you are taking care of so many people and so many things." Kline brings humor and a positive message in her "Treating Yourself Like Royalty."

Tickets to the luncheon and the keynote speaker are available and can be purchased for $5 each if purchasing one ticket; $4 each if purchasing two or more tickets. Seating is limited. Ticket reservations can be made by calling Gayle at (218) 894-8623.

Brainerd places second in one-act play section meet

Brainerd High School's One-Act play missed its chance to go to state by one point Saturday in the 8AA Section One-Act play competition at Alexandria Middle School.

Brainerd placed second at the competition, losing to Moorhead.

Audra Lind-Albrecht, Brainerd's drama director, said she was happy with second place because the students have found success in the past two years and the program has been growing.

"To the best of my knowledge Brainerd has never placed as high as second at the section level," said Lind-Albrecht. "Our kids did a fantastic job and really came together to give an exceptional performance."

Brainerd's one-act play was "Pullman Car Hiawatha."

The Little Falls Community High School placed third in the competition with "Wiley and the Hairy Man."

Annie Kraus, Little Falls One-Act play director, said "There's tremendous talent here at the high school. I feel honored and privileged to work with these kids and to be a part of this achievement in my first year as their director."

Alexandria placed fourth and Sartell and Bemidji tied for fifth place.

Elementary Science Fair planned Thursday

The Freshwater Education District will sponsor an Elementary Science Fair at the Bertha Community Center from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday.

Fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade students from Bertha-Hewitt, Browerville, Eagle Valley, Grey Eagle, Long Prairie, Motley, Pillager, Staples and Verndale schools will participate. The fair is open to the public. An awards ceremony will take place at 4 p.m.

STEM educational summit planned in Brainerd Thursday

The Minnesota Department of Education will host a regional summit from 9 a.m. to noon Thursday at the Central Lakes College gymnasium in Brainerd for students to learn about Science, Technology, Engineering and Math education and career opportunities.

The summit is one of eight regional summits presented by the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota High Tech Association to highlight the rapidly growing career and higher education opportunities available in STEM fields.