LOCAL BRIEFS
'Pretty Much 100% Scandinavian' set Friday
Sons of Norway Sagatun will host award-winning Swedish filmmaker Stefan Quinth and "Pretty Much 100% Scandinavian" at 7 p.m. Friday at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1420 S. Sixth St., Brainerd.
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Quinth and William Beyer, former education, collections and programs director for the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis, will screen their new film "Pretty Much 100% Scandinavian," a light-hearted exploration of contemporary Scandinavian America. The film samples more than 100 hours of footage after Quinth and Beyer circled around the Twin Cities and followed Scandinavian American trails from St. Peter to Grand Marais, Moorhead to Grand Rapids and eastern North Dakota to western Wisconsin.
Quinth has been making films since 1976 and specializes in working with animals, nature and diverse cultures. He has worked and filmed in more than 40 countries and recently concentrated on Kodiak, Ala.; Egypt; and Sri Lanka. He has produced a long list of films that have been aired on Swedish and international television.
The event is open to the public. Scandinavian-inspired pastries will be served afterward and free-will donations will be accepted to defray costs.
New York author to sign books in Little Falls
LITTLE FALLS - New York author Christina Baker Kline will greet fans and sign her books from 2-3 p.m. Saturday at Bookin' It Bookstore in Little Falls.
Kline's two most recent novels are "The Way Life Should Be" and "Bird In Hand."
Kline, who will be in Little Falls in connection with the Orphan Train Riders annual meeting, writes human relationships and self-discovery stories.
The event is the first in a series of book signings this fall at Bookin' It. St. Paul author Nora Murphy and "Knitting the Threads of Time" will be featured Nov. 8 and Kent Meyers and "The Witness of Combines, The Work of Wolves, Twisted Tree" on Nov. 14.
Information about Bookin' It events may be found by going to its Web site at www.bookinit ontheweb.com or by calling the store at (800) 809-1848.
Brainerd native's film to be featured at film festival
The film "Going to Seed" by Brianna Deihl, a 2000 Brainerd High School graduate, was accepted into St. John's International Women's Film Festival, a women's fest in Newfoundland, Canada.
The film will be featured from 9-10:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Deihl's other film, "Strays," was accepted to Sundance, Slamdance and SXSW, a music, film and interactive conference and festival.
Watercolor holiday card class scheduled Nov. 6-8
Kathy Kovala is hosting a watercolor holiday card class Nov. 6-8 at Lake Edward Town Hall in Nisswa.
Cost is $225 for the three-day session or $75 per day.
Register early by calling Kovala at 829-1457 or (715) 360-9929 or e-mail her at kathy kovala@msn.com.
John Gorka in concert at Nisswa on Oct. 23
NISSWA - John Gorka will perform at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 23 at the Live Well Nightclub and Coffee Bar in Nisswa as part of the Grassroots Concerts series.
John Gorka
Gorka will introduce a new recording, "So Dark You See," which shows his roots in traditional folk music, digging up stuff from the past and shining light on old stories of love and war.
Gorka has played several times in the organic, nonprofit Grassroots Concerts series, first appearing with Garnet Rogers in 1988. Gorka won the New Folk Award 25 years ago, when Rolling Stone magazine said he was the "Pre-eminent male singer-songwriter of what's been dubbed the New Folk Movement."
Gorka's rich, multi-faceted songs are full of depth, beauty and emotion. The qualities earned attention from critics and audiences across the country, as well as in Europe. Gorka has toured Italy, Belgium, Scotland, Ireland, Holland, Switzerland and Germany.
In 1998, after five successful recordings and seven years at Windham Hill/High Street, Gorka returned to his musical roots at St. Paul-based Red House Records.
Admission to the event at the nightclub, located across from the A&W restaurant, is $10 for adults and $5 for ages 12 and younger. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Volunteer-run Grassroots Concerts are made possible in part by a grant from the Legislature, awarded by the Five Wings Regional Arts Council. Grassroots Concerts welcomes non-perishable food donation to the local food shelf.
For information on the concerts series, call (218) 829-4092, go to www.grassrootsconcerts.org or e-mail grassrootsconcerts@ charter.net.
Wine-tasting event slated Oct. 22 at the Beanery
AITKIN - The Northern Lights Wine Club will meet for a wine-tasting event at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 22 at the Beanery Cafe in downtown Aitkin.
Wines from Germany and Austria will be featured. In Germany, Riesling is the king of wines. Several Rieslings ranging from sweet dessert wines to dry food-friendly wines will be sampled. Wines from other grape varieties, including Sptburgunder, Blaufrnkisch and Gewrztraminer, will be tasted. In Austria, the aromatic white wine, Grner Veltliner, and the Blauer Zweigelt are the leading wines.
Participants will learn basic topics relating to wine appreciation. This is the perfect place for wine beginners to learn about wine, and experienced wine lovers can brush up on their wine knowledge and tasting skills.
The Beanery Cafe will serve an assortment of appetizers and wines. You do not need to be a member of the Northern Lights Wine Club to attend and no purchase is required.
Cost is $20 for club members and $25 for non-members. Attendees are encouraged to register early because of space limitations. Reservations are required.
For more information, call the Beanery Cafe at (218) 927-7811 or register online at www. NorthernLightsWine.com.
North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble at CLC Oct. 24
The North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble will perform at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 24 at Central Lakes College in Brainerd. The event is part of the fall Cultural Arts Series in Chalberg Theatre.
The North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble will perform at Central Lakes College in Brainerd at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 24. The event is part of the fall Cultural Arts Series at Chalberg Theatre.
Founded in 1983 by Gene Medler, NCYTE is a nonprofit company that represents all that is good about participation in the arts by young people. Ensemble members are drawn from a wide range of ethnic, religious and economic backgrounds and reflect North Carolina's diverse population. Selected by audition each year, they have been lauded around the nation and abroad.
Repertory companies like the North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble help to build and maintain a repository of choreography new and old and produce some of the world's top dancers.
For information and tickets, call the CLC Box Office at 855-8199 or e-mail clctheatre@ clcmn.edu.
Crosslake Library 'Book Talk' scheduled Oct. 26
CROSSLAKE - Crosslake Library "Book Talk" is scheduled at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 26 at the Crosslake Community Center and will feature Pam Lillehei, author of "Every Step of the Way."
When Lillehei discovered she had breast cancer in 1994, fear and panic set in. Her book is her own personal story of hope that includes encouraging words from eight other women who also had breast cancer. It offers practical guidelines for prayer, suggestions for family, friends and caregivers and suggestions for the person in crisis. "Every Step of the Way" offers spiritual hope and encouragement for the difficult times people in this situation will face.
Through her church, Lillehei is involved in premarital sessions focusing on conflict resolution. She also is a victim-offender mediator for Dakota County and is trained as a secondary teacher and a human resources consultant. Copies of her book will be available for purchase and signing. Admission is free and refreshments will be served.
Information session scheduled in Brainerd
An information session on the 2010-11 academic year at the Arts High School at the Perpich Center for Arts Education in Golden Valley is scheduled from 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 24 at the Brainerd Public Library.
The deadline to apply for admission for the 2010-11 school year is Feb. 1. Arts High School staff will give presentations for interested students and parents. To make a reservation on the session, call (763) 591-4700 or (800) 657-3515.
The school serves families throughout Minnesota and provides an on-campus residence hall for out-of-town students. Residence hall advisors collaborate with parents and students to ensure a safe, comfortable and nurturing environment.
For admissions information contact Bev DeVos, admissions coordinator, at (763) 591-4710 or (800) 657-3515 or 711 for Minnesota Relay Service or by e-mail at Bev.DeVos@pcae.k12. mn.us.
The Arts High School is a public school and tuition is free. Its curriculum offers a rigorous academic program and intensive course work in the arts. Dedicated teachers inspire students to realize their potential as individuals, students, artists and members of a community.
Brixius' book receives high remarks
Rod Brixius, local author of "Hanging Onto Sanity As State Hospital Staff," was featured in the "Minnesota Moments" September/October issue, was reviewed and highly recommended by The Duluth News Tribune and was given a perfect five-star rating by Midwest Book Review.
Rod Brixius
The book, written by Brixius after working in the Minnesota State Hospital system for more than 43 years - with most of those years spent working at the Brainerd State Hospital - is a compilation of vignettes that describe how early state hospitals functioned from an insider's viewpoint. The book is available at local bookstores.
Brainerd natives release book
"Legacies of Faith," a story about the Catholic churches of Stearns County, has been released and is available at Book World in Baxter.
The authors of the book are brothers John and Robert Roscoe.