LOCAL BRIEFS

The Minnesota Crime Wave is coming to the Brainerd Public Library at 11 a.m. Oct. 31.

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The Minnesota Crime Wave was established in the fall of 2000 and includes mystery writers William Kent Krueger, Carl Brookins and Ellen Hart. They've published more than 30 novels and have received nearly two dozen local, regional and national awards for their writing. They have toured the country several times, presenting more than 100 events and workshops at libraries, bookstores, conferences and book festivals.

Krueger writes the "Cork O'Connor" mystery series, which is set in the north woods of Minnesota and features a protagonist who is part Irish and part Ojibwe. His stories often deal with the clash of cultures. He is four-time winner of the Minnesota Book Award. Krueger's latest novel, "Heaven's Keep," was published in September.

Musicians Ross Sutter and Laura MacKenzie will perform Friday at the New York Mills Regional Cultural Center.

Brookins, a former academic and an avid sailor, is the author of three mystery series. "The Tanner-Whitney" series features a married pair of sailing sleuths. "The Sean Sean" series features a short, funny and sometimes dark private detective with an identical first and last name. His most recent offering, "Bloody Halls," introduces a series with an academic setting.

Hart, a trained chef, is author of the "Jane Lawless" mystery series, which features a culinary detective. Hart also has written novels featuring food critic Sophie Greenway. Both series are set in the Twin Cities. Hart teaches mystery writing at the University of Minnesota and the Loft Literary Center.

Admission is free, but seating is limited. The Minnesota Crime Wave author visits are part of the Kitchigami Reads/Kitchigami Writes project, made possible with funding from the Minnesota Legacy Arts Fund.

For more information about the Minnesota Crime Wave, visit its Web site, minnesotacrimewave.org.

Ballet 101 class, 'Nutcracker' to be performed

The Stroia Ballet Company will present an introduction to the ballet class and present "The Nutcracker" in November.

The ballet class will be presented by Carlos Stroia, the company's choreographer and artistic director, and sponsored by Unlimited Learning. The class is scheduled at 12:30 p.m. Nov. 17 at the Heartwood Conference Room, 500 Heartwood Dr., Crosby.

"The Nutcracker" will be performed at 7 p.m. Nov. 20 at the Washington Educational Services Building in Brainerd. Tickets for the performance: seniors, $11; adults, $12; children 12 and younger, $8.

Stroia was trained in his native Romania and danced with companies such as Ballet National De Cuba in Cuba, Hamburg Ballet in Germany and Teatro La Scala in Italy. In the early 1980s, he opened the Stroia Ballet Studio in Little Falls and established The Stroia Ballet Company.

Unlimited Learning programs are funded in part by a Lifelong Learning Grant from the Minnesota Humanities Center. There is no charge for members of Unlimited Learning. Non-members pay $6 per class session.

For information on other Unlimited Learning programs, contact Larry Foote at (218) 678-3034 or e-mail at llfoote@mlecmn.net.

Public reading scheduled Nov. 14

LITTLE FALLS - The Great River Writers will mark their ninth anniversary with a public reading Nov. 14 at the Great River Arts Center, 122 First St.. S.E., Little Falls.

Admission is free but donations to GRAA will be accepted. The doors open at 7 p.m.

The Great River Writers are area artists working in such genres as fiction, poetry, memoir, mystery writing, screen plays and essays. Various members have been meeting monthly to discuss writing topics and techniques, exploring their love of writing and reporting on their publishing opportunities and successes.

This year's event will include readings by the humorous Pinky Charon, first-time novelist Mary Warner, screenwriter Dan Dambowy and poet Laura Hansen. Terri Verkuilen will be the host and author Kent Meyers will be a featured guest reader.

Meyers is the author of "The River Warren," "The Work of Wolves," "Twisted Tree" and "A Light in the Crossing. Meyers' memoir."

For more information on the event, call (320) 632-1848 or (320) 632-0960.

'Soup, Sandwich and a Song' fundraiser scheduled Nov. 1

STAPLES - The "Soup, Sandwich and a Song" fundraiser concert is scheduled at 12:30 p.m. Nov. 1 at the Staples Motley High School cafeteria.

The concert will serve as a fundraiser for the Staples Area Women's Chorus and include a soup and sandwich lunch with a fall apple dessert. During lunch, the Staples Area Women's chorus will entertain with a wide variety of musical favorites.

Tickets may be purchased from choir members, at the door (unless sold out) or from Staples Wireless on Fourth Street in Staples.

Northwood area writers' publication released

The Jackpine Writers' Bloc of the Park Rapids/Menahga area announces the release of Volume 18 of "The Talking Stick."

The publication is a collection of prose and poetry by Minnesota writers with a connection to the Brainerd lakes northwoods, including Maxine Kaiser Russell, Carol Campbell, Beverly Abear, Charmaine Pappas Donovan, Laura L. Hansen and Doris Stengel.

Books will be available for sale on the Writers Bloc Web site at www.jackpinewriters.com or at several northern Minnesota book stores.

Sutter and MacKenzie to perform in New York Mills

NEW YORK MILLS - Musicians Ross Sutter and Laura MacKenzie will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the New York Mills Regional Cultural Center.

Advance tickets are $12 and may be purchased by calling (218) 385-3339. Tickets are $15 at the door.

Sutter has built his reputation with fresh interpretations of Irish, Scottish, Scandinavian and Northern European songs and has toured Europe several times. He has performed on radio, television and at festivals throughout the Midwest and works regularly in schools, teaching songs and folk dances. He plays the guitar, bodhran, button accordion, dulcimer and bones and is best known for his baritone voice.

MacKenzie has performed in Ireland, Scotland, England, central France, northern Spain and Minnesota on flutes, whistles, pipes and concertina. She has been lauded as a "Celtic music wizard" by the Minneapolis Star Tribune and a "High priestess of Celtic music" by Minnesota Public Radio.

Call for "Small" art

Lost Lake Design is calling for submissions for its second annual "Small Art Sale."

Artists are asked to submit artwork of any medium with dimensions equal to or less than 12-by-12 inches. Work will be exhibited in Lost Lake Design's local artist gallery from Nov. 8 through Dec. 30. The deadline for entries is Nov. 6. All work must be ready for hanging.

Drop off work at Lost Lake Design, 77c East Broadway, downtown Little Falls. For more information and a registration form, call (320) 632-5585 or e-mail heidisteadman@yahoo.com.

Now showing is work by Thom Lange, a sculptor and illustrator.