Local news briefs
Smith elected area director
Alice Smith, a Brainerd businesswoman, was elected area director for the state of Minnesota at the biannual Zonta District 7 meeting that was held in St. Charles, Mo., in September. Smith will hold this office from July 2010 through July 2012. As area director, Smith will provide leadership support to Minnesota's Zonta clubs in St. Cloud, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Austin and Mankato. She will also serve on the board of directors for Zonta's District 7 which is comprised of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri.
Alice Smith
Smith is a past president of the Brainerd Zonta club. She has also chaired several committees and is now serving as the club's treasurer. She is an owner of the Brainerd UPS Store, Erbert and Gerbert's, Brainerd Lakes Cakes and Daylight Donuts.
Zonta International is an organization dedicated to improving the status of women worldwide through service and advocacy. The Brainerd club supports local scholarships, Girls' PORT, promotion of aviation and related career fields for women via their Amelia Earhart books/reading program for local schools, and international service projects throughout the world in partnership with the United Nations.
Tree lighting planned
IRONTON - Serbian Sisters will host a holiday tree lighting ceremony at 3:30 p.m. Sunday in Ironton. The activities will be held on the north end of Curtis Avenue.
Transplanted to its current site, the tree was planted as a seedling in Cuyuna many years ago by Ed Radinovich and donated to Serbian Sisters by the Radinovich family in memory of their father. The tree is part of the Serbian Sisters Balkan Memorial Garden endeavor.
The group invites its members and the public to arrive at 3:30 p.m. to decorate the tree as strains of international Christmas music fill the air. If a person wishes, they may bring an ornament(s) to hang or strings of popcorn or cranberries to adorn the tree. Bird-friendly ornaments are especially valued.
At 4:30 p.m. the switch will be flipped to honor the early immigrants who came to call the Cuyuna Range home.
Serbian Sisters is a nonprofit group interested in preserving cultural heritage, community beautification and historical preservation. It is open to men, women and children of all ethnic and religious backgrounds.
To join or learn more contact Serbian Sisters, P.O. Box 455, Ironton, MN 56455, call 545-2027 or e-mail serbiansisters@gmail.com.