Wren's Nest: Summer events heat up in Wrenshall

Over the last week I found a deer tick, a blacklegged tick, and a wood tick, all in very uncomfortable proximity to my body. After hearing from an area resident who contracted Lyme disease, I am adding my voice to others’ (including singer Brad Paisley) to encourage nightly tick checks. In doing some research on best repellents, it seems that products with picaridin are rated the highest and are also safe to use on bare skin. We’ve found that making sure our animals are up to date on tick repellent medication also helps keeps the bugs to a low ebb.

Tiny critter sightings also mean good things are ahead of us, and this past week saw some welcome sunshine and warmer temperatures. There is a lot to get onto the calendar as Wrenshall looks ahead to the summer months.

June 4-5, we will see the return of the Wrenshall garage sales. Ashley Laveau is organizing maps this year, and they will be available the day of the sales at the Wrenshall General Store, Bricks and the Brickyard. In the past 20 years of attending I’ve found lots, including a slate chalkboard, a leather suitcase, living room lamps and an Instant Pot.

I chatted with Wrenshall’s assistant city clerk, Hannah Jurek, to hear more about the city council’s plans for Hugh Line Park this summer. Jurek lovingly refers to it as “Deer Park” and is excited about this year’s lineup. Things kick off 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 23, with an ice cream social and ribbon cutting for the new playground. “It went up towards the end of last

summer,” said Jurek, “so we never got a chance to properly debut it.”

The lack of any special opening celebration hasn’t stopped folks from enjoying the structure. Jurek said she has seen lots of activity since it went up.

“I just saw Shirley Van Gilder with a group of kiddos over there today.” She added that Wrenshall kids now have three park options to choose from when planning their play. “It’s a far cry from when I was a kid! Now there is the school playground, the Woodhaven park, and this new one,” Jurek said.

Festivities for the dedication will include a soft serve ice cream machine. Kevin and Renae House will be donating the equipment as well as their time to serve the sweet treat.

There will be bingo in the park July 21, hosted by the Wrenshall fire department. This year will feature 10 games starting right at 6 p.m., and lasting until the last prize finds its home.

The council is planning events for a Wrenshall Night out, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Aug. 5. If you are interested in volunteering and helping out, contact Jurek at the city.

Other Wrenshall dates of note include the Free Range Film Festival. I’ve been putting together the film lineup this past week, and movies will include vintage VHS home movies from an English farmer, experimental animations, and an area art heist documentary. The event will take place Friday and Saturday evening, June 24-25, in the big old barn on the corner of County roads 4 and 1.

If you want to share your own Wrenshall-specific story ideas — let me know! Call 218-310-4703 or email [email protected].