Middle School open for walkers

Would-be walkers in Sartell won't have the excuse of "it's too cold" to walk this winter.

Once again, the Sartell Middle School hallways are available for indoor walkers this season, thanks to a community-education program that provides identification badges to walkers. Walkers must have a badge for a one-time cost of $2.

The badges cannot be mailed and must be picked up at the Sartell Community Education Office in the District Office Building.

The open-walking hours are from 5:30-9 p.m. weekdays when school is in session from Jan. 2 to May 31.

For questions or more information, call 253-4036.

Nordic ski event set Sunday at Riverside

The fifth annual Barnelopet, a free children’s Nordic ski event for ages 3-12, will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 22 at the Riverside Park warming shelter, 1725 Kilian Blvd. SE, St. Cloud, across the river from St. Cloud State University. Sponsored by the Sons of Norway, the event provides free cross-country ski equipment, if needed. Limited supplies available on a first come, first served basis. On-site registration begins at 11:30 a.m. but early registration is highly preferred, so please send in the registration form ASAP. Registration forms are available at http://mysl.org/sites/mysl.org/files/SONB-RegForm2012bw.pdf. Free adult Nordic ski lessons will also available at 11:30 a.m.

The Sons of Norway lodges from St. Cloud, Trollheim 511, Anoka, Vennekretsen 559, and Moundsview, Fjell Syn 667 are the three lodges sponsoring this event. Cross country (nordic) ski equipment will be provided by the MN Youth Ski League for the event for those that need them until all ski equipment is lent out. All participants receive an Olympic-style keepsake medal for this free event. We are hoping to get twice as many kids in 2012! Please contact Nicholas Snavely at stcloud@mysl.org if you plan to volunteer at this very fun and successful skiing event for the children.

Hot chocolate, cookies, lefsa, krumkake, valffler (waffles) and rosettes provided! Visit with the real Vikings!

Participants needed for Spring Fever event

Participants and pledges are needed for the third annual "Spring Fever Charity 5k Walk, Run and Raffle" that will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 25 at Gold's Gym in Sartell.

The purpose of the event is to raise funds for construction of an orphanage in Cameroon, West Africa. The orphanage will house some of the many orphans whose parents have died of HIV/AIDS in that country. Last year, a group of volunteers – some from Sartell – laid the groundwork for the orphanage. This year, they hope to complete the actual building.

The project is the work of Angel of Mercy USA and "200 Orphanages Worldwide," whose executive director is Jan Hanson of Sartell.

For more information about the "Spring Fevers Charity" event and how to become involved, go to the following webiste: www.100orphanagesworldwide.net

Yellow arrow signal at Pinecone/CR 120

Area motorists are advised the traffic signal located at CSAH 120 and Pine Cone Road has been modified to include a flashing yellow left turn arrow on all approaches. The signal modification will provide more opportunities to make left turns at the intersection. When the flashing yellow arrow indication is up drivers are allowed to make a left turn after yielding to oncoming traffic. The old system allowed left turns only with a green arrow.

When approaching the signal drivers should be aware the solid red arrow still indicates drivers turning left must stop and wait, a solid yellow arrow still indicates the left turn signal is about to turn red and drivers should prepare to stop or complete their left turn, and a solid green arrow still indicates left turns have the right of way and oncoming traffic has a red light.

The new system is expected to move traffic through the intersection more efficiently. For more information on the flashing yellow arrow traffic signals please visit the Minnesota Department of Transportation web site at http://www.dot.state.mn.us/trafficeng/signals/flashingyellowarrow.html or contact Stearns County Highway Department at 320.255.6180 or highway@co.stearns.mn.us .

Grandparenting: what has changed?

Discover your new role as a grandparent and the latest changes in infant care, feeding methods and home, car and toy safety. Aunts and uncles are welcome, too! The next classes are from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Mondays, Jan. 23, Feb. 27 and March 26 at CentraCare Health Plaza – Hughes Mathews Room. Free. Register at www.centracare.com. For more information, call St. Cloud Hospital Women & Children’s Center at (320) 229-5139.

‘Deer Camp’ Jan. 27 in Foley

The original cast of “Deer Camp the Musical” will perform Friday, Jan. 27 at the Foley High School Auditorium, with shows at 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

The musical has been tied to the St. Cloud area since its inception; the writer of the script is Waite Park’s own Gene Jurek, who enlisted his long time musician friend and former band mate, Doug Spartz to write the music for the play.

Tickets for the Foley shows are available at Coborn’s in Foley or by calling 218-536-0589 or email cindy@greatnorthshowproviders.com. Go to Facebook to Deer Camp the Musical for more information and video and photos from previous shows.

Community Showcase set for Feb. 25

Once again, the annual Sartell Area Chamber of Commerce's "Community Showcase" will be presented in Sartell, with more than 60 businesses and orgnizations participating.

It will take place, free for the public, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25 at Sartell Middle School. Its theme this year is "Back to the 50s."

Aside from the many informational booths, there will be health screenings, fun activities, games for children, a martial-arts demonstration, an open-swim session and lots of door prizes and gifts from vendors.

The showcase is a way for Sartell residents and visitors to become acquainted with the many products and services offered by businesses and organizations in the Sartell area.

For more information or for booth space, call 258-6061. Or visit the Chamber website at www.sartellchamber.com

Ski, hike Jan. 21 at Lindbergh Park

A candlelight ski, snowshoe and hike will be held from 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21 at Charles Lindbergh State Park, 1615 Lindbergh Drive S., Little Falls. Explore 1.4 miles of easy, candle-lit cross-country ski trails and .6 miles of easy hiking and snowshoe trails before relaxing with refreshments in a wood-heated 1938 Works Progress Administration shelter building. If there is a lack of snow the event will turn into a candlelight hike.

The lit trails will meander through stands of pine, oak and aspen and over Pike Creek. Ski rentals are available in Little Falls. Vehicle permits and Great MN ski passes will be available at the park office.

“It’s a great way to take in the park,” said park manager Ty Gangelhoff. “It’s a very peaceful atmosphere at night and the luminaries definitely add to the experience.”

In case of bad weather a message will be left on the park answering machine stating if the event has been canceled. Please call the park at (320) 616-2525 for more event or area ski rental information. The park is located at 1615 Lindbergh Drive South, on the southwest side of Little Falls.

Family Fitness series targets all families

Bernick’s is partnering with the St. Cloud Area Family YMCA to bring the Bernick’s Family Fitness Series to the community. The Bernick’s Family Fitness Series consists of four events throughout the year, aiming to increase the level of physical activity in families within the community. Bernick’s and the YMCA are seeking other co-sponsors for each of the events.

The mission of the Bernick’s Family Fitness Series is to continue improving the health and wellness of our community through a series of fun, educational, and activity based seasonal family friendly fitness events that promote healthy living, youth development, and social responsibility.

Following the YMCA’s mission of inclusiveness, every family will have equal opportunity to participate in these events, which are designed to target all families in the St. Cloud area, specifically those who are not currently physically active. What makes the Family Fitness Series different from other events in our community is that we will have activities that all ages and skill levels can participate in as a family.

Adoptive parents meeting set

An adoption information meeting, sponsored by Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, will be held from 6-8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 23, at Atonement Lutheran Church, located at 1144 29th Ave. N., St. Cloud.

Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota Adoption: Join us to learn about exciting opportunities and changes in adoption. Discover the tools and support for families who would like a flexible, proactive adoption process, and learn how LSS can partner with you to grow your family.

LSS can help families adopt children locally and from countries around the world.

Call Lynne Haggar at (612) 879-5230 or 1-888-205-3769 to register. For more information, or to register online, visit www.minnesotaadoption.org.