Local event briefs

NISSWA - The general meeting of the Nisswa Area Historical Society will be 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Nisswa Community Center.

Spinners' Guild at Pioneer Village

NISSWA - The Nisswa Area Historical Society's Pioneer Village will host the area Spinners' Guild members during the 2010 season. Members will be spinning from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 23 in the Pioneer Village.

The spinners demonstrate and have handspun yarns and finished handcrafted items for sale.

For more information, call 963-3570.

Annual July blood drive planned

BAXTER - Blood donations to the Red Cross are greatly needed to maintain the blood supply during the summer months.

Call Dee at 829-3485 to donate from 1-7 p.m. July 1 at the Heritage Assembly of God Church in Baxter. Bring photo identification.

Call 838-5433 the day of the drive.

Arts in the Park planned July 3

The Arts in the Park annual event will be 10 a.m. to 4 :30 p.m. July 3 at Gregory Park in Brainerd.

The annual event will feature about 140 artists as well as food vendors.

The Century of Cars Show will be hosted in conjunction with Arts in the Park on July 3 in the park.

Nature Walk with Paul Lukens

CROSBY - Rhubarb lemonade? That's the treat that will cap off Unlimited Learning's special event, "Nature Walk with Paul Lukens," on June 15, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Learn about and enjoy a bit of nature in the woods and woodlots and on unmowed lawns of the area. The outing will be led by Lukens, retired professor of biology at the University of Wisconsin.

Participants will meet in the easternmost parking lot of the Heartwood Senior Living Community in Crosby and carpool to several nearby locations from there. The walk will take about two hours and no special clothing or footwear will be necessary. Distances walked will be short and not strenuous. The emphasis will be on plants, especially flowering plants, but questions about local resident wildlife are welcome.

The group will end up at the Lukens home, where participants will see some interesting plants and Nancy Lukens will serve rhubarb lemonade.

For further information, call Joanna Pierce at (218) 534-4946.

Lane restriction on Highway 10 near Little Falls are removed

The Minnesota Department of Transportation announced Friday the lane restriction for the Highway 10 overflow bridge north of Little Falls has been removed. Traffic has returned to a single lane in each direction on the westbound lanes of the bridge while the eastbound bridge is being constructed.

Wild and Free Rehabilitation Center

DEERWOOD - Wild and Free, a rehabilitation center for injured and orphaned wild animals, will have its annual gala dinner and silent auction Wednesday at Lonesome Pine Restaurant in Deerwood.

The silent auction will begin at 5 p.m. with a dinner at 6:30 p.m. Entertaining music and humor will be presented by Norman's Bait and Tackle Choir. Tickets are $50 per person and all proceeds benefit Wild and Free. The dinner and wine have been sponsored and donated by Lonesome Pine Restaurant and Cashwise Liquors of Brainerd.

Several items will be auctioned, including artwork, wine and other wildlife items. Tickets for the event are available at Lonesome Pine, Cashwise Liquors, Garrison Animal Hospital or by calling (320) 692-4973.