Area briefs

PEQUOT LAKES -- The Pequot Lakes Area Historical Society will host a thrift sale and bake sale 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the senior center in Pequot Lakes.

All proceeds from the sale will go to the society's elevator fund. The historical society museum will be open during the sale.

Aitkin County Kinship to host white elephant sale

AITKIN -- Kinship of Aitkin County will conduct its third annual white elephant/bake/craft sale 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 28 and 29 at Westside Church in Aitkin.

Kinship kids will wash cars 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 29 to raise money for the American Cancer Society's Walk for Life.

Donations for the white elephant/bake/craft sale will be accepted 8 a.m. to noon May 24-27 at the church.

White elephant items are best explained as something you may consider junk, but that could be someone else's treasure, such as jewelry pieces or art pieces, or something as simple as a tea cup and saucer. Kinship cannot accept clothing or furniture items.

Call (218) 927-4039 or 1-800-397-4818 for more information, or if interested in reserving a booth to display crafts.

To get involved in Kinship of Aitkin County as a volunteer, contact Bill Stimac at (218) 927-4039 or 1-800-397-4818 or e-mail to mentors@mlecmn.net.

Pine River-Backus YAR approves money for projects

PINE RIVER -- Pine River-Backus Youth As Resources approved $3,936 for seven projects created and carried out by area youth.

The 22 students in the geology/horticulture class from PR-B High School received money from YAR for six landscaping projects. These projects will take place at Norway Brook Apartments, Pine River dam, the Pine River school grounds and Whispering Pines.

The class also received funding to build a greenhouse for classes to use. Students are using what they learned in class to research ground preparation, select plants that fit sites, physically do all the work, keep a budget, and improve the community.

Also approved for funding for the YAR program was the PR-B Amnesty International group for human rights week. This student group used the funding to bring Winona LaDuke to speak to the student body and to more than 100 community members about human rights.

Quilt business owner to talk about her craft in Staples

STAPLES -- Ione Whitney of Brickhouse Quilting in Washington will offer two classes this month through Staples Motley Community Education.

Registration for both classes is $25 through Staples Motley Community Education, (218) 894-2497. Classes will be at the Farm Quilt Haus, 11862 261st Ave., Staples.

From 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, learn about more than 2,000 quilts Whitney has quilted since 1994. Bring unquilted tops for a chance to try newfound skills.

From 9 a.m. to noon May 26, Whitney will talk about starting a machine quilting business. She also will share quilting ideas.