Carlton news

Winter blues got you down? Take a little break and come to the Carlton Winterfest celebration Saturday, Feb. 8. Most of the activities will be held at the Four Seasons Sports Complex and Event Center and sponsored by the Carlton Area Chamber of Commerce and the Carlton Area Lions.

Some of the activities will include a 10-hole mini golf gourse, the chili cook-off with registration at 1 p.m., open skating and hockey in the arena, and the Carlton firefighters’ bingo starting at 7 p.m. in the Carlton High School gym.

Kids activities include a zoomobile 1 to 3 p.m. at Four Seasons.

Before heading to play bingo, stop by the Bethesda Lutheran Church for its Swedish meatball supper 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Take-out is available.

Check out the Carlton Chamber website: http://www.carltonchamber.com for more information on Winterfest.

In Carlton High School news, this past fall Abby Mickle, Nicole Nilsen and Alaina Bennett completed the Title 3 CNA class at Fond du Lac Tribal Community College, and have now passed the testing and are certified nursing assistants. Congratulations.

Alaina Kiehl will be attending the “Fired Up About Welding” program through Lake Superior College this spring. The nine-week course will give her the opportunity to learn the basics of welding and fabrication while designing and creating a personal project.

On Jan. 30, the high school held a “Chart Your Future” senior interview day. Each senior created a resume and was interviewed by a panel of three to four local professionals. Students had the opportunity to practice professionalism, interview skills and more. The 17 community members included representatives from health care, trades, small businesses, military and human services. The event was in partnership with the Northeast Minnesota Office of Job Training.

South Terrace Elementary School will celebrate “I Love to Read” month throughout February. The theme of the program is “Out of this World: Space.” There will be various activities such as “I caught you reading” (students get their name in a bucket for a drawing), “Drop Everything & Read” and an assembly at the end of the month for awards and prizes. The coordinator is Teresa Swanson, Title I coach for the Minnesota Reading Corp, a one-to-one program in preschool to third grade.

I hope everyone will take the time to show the love next Friday. According to Hallmark.com, Valentine’s Day comes from the third-century Valentinus, a theologian and teacher who was imprisoned for his Christian beliefs and sentenced to death. In the prison Valentinus got to know the jailer’s daughter and — according to Roman legend — restored her eyesight. The night before Valentinus died, he wrote her a farewell note, signing it “From your Valentine.” His death sentence was carried out the next day, Feb. 14, 269 A.D.

Happy Valentine’s Day to my family and friends.

Other events

• Carlton VFW Post 296 will have live music Saturday, Feb. 8.

• The Four Seasons Sports Complex offers open hockey at 10:15 a.m. and open skating at 12:30 p.m. on Saturdays. Open skating at 12:30 p.m. on Sundays.

• Oldenburg House: Take your sweetheart out for an evening of great music and a romantic dinner at the Cookin’ at the O event Feb. 14 and Feb. 15 6:30-10 p.m. Twin Cities based improvisational vocalist Sarah M. Greer will be accompanied by Steven Holbert, piano, Joey Pettit on bass and Glenn Swanson on drums. Find more at info.oldenburghouse.com.

• Carlton High School will hold its homecoming celebration and coronation after the boys basketball game Friday, Feb. 21. The community is welcome to attend.

If you have a special community event in Carlton or know a special person who should be recognized, contact Leola Rodd at 218-310-6065 or [email protected].