Local briefs

Christmas angel tree locations provide an opportunity to pick a tag and provide a child with a present this holiday season.

Tags may be taken from the tree. Once gifts are purchased and wrapped, the tags should be placed on the outside of the package. Wrapped gifts may be delivered to the Salvation Army at 208 S. Fifth St. by Dec. 6.

Angel trees are located in Brainerd and Baxter at Wal-Mart, the Westgate Mall, J.C. Penney, Bremer banks, Wells Fargo Bank, Mid-Minnesota Federal Credit Union and First National Bank of Deerwood.

Gingerbread house class set today, Monday

Gingerbread house building classes are being offered by Brainerd Community Education today and Monday.

And the Brainerd Northside Residents Association is sponsoring a Gingerbread House Contest as part of this holiday season's Christmas in the Park celebration scheduled for Dec. 1 in Brainerd's Gregory Park.

The gingerbread house building contest is open to individuals, families, organizations and businesses.

Kathee Stanwood, a home economist and professional cake decorator, will provide recipes and helpful ideas to build gingerbread houses at two Community Education class sessions. She will give demonstrations making and using meringue, snowmen, Christmas trees, candy clay figures and more.

Sessions are 7 to 9 p.m. today and Monday at the Apple Cafe at Mississippi Horizons School in Brainerd. Class cost is $11. Participants must preregister for the classes.

Organizers hoped classes would inspire participants in the gingerbread house decorating contest for the Christmas in the Park event.

For more information, call Community Education at 828-5372.