Bemidji Buyline | September 9, 2023

A2 | Saturday, September 9, 2023 | tHe buyline SHopper to contribute newS StorieS or pHotoS, email: buyline@bemidjipioneer.com

St. Bartholomew’s to hold fall rummage, bake sale

BEMIDJI — St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church will host a fall rummage and bake sale from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 9, at the church, 1800 Irvine Ave. NW.

Lunch will be available. Items for sale will include homewares, furniture, white elephants, jewelry, artworks, crafts, small appliances, Nespresso machine, toys and games, shoes, clothing and bedding, dog crates, some outdoor and baby items, a release said.

Great River Rescue announces Pet Fixers clinics

BEMIDJI — Great River Rescue will host low-cost spay and neuter clinics through its Pet Fixers program this year.

Qualified pet owners and caretakers can get their pets spayed or neutered and receive other low-cost preventative care services at an upcoming weekend clinic, a release said.

Clinics are typically held once per month at

Great River Rescue, located at 1612 Carr Lake Road SE.

Remaining clinics for this year are: Sept. 9 and 10

NEWS BRIEFS

qualifications along with all available services and prices can be found on the Pet Fixers page of the Great River Rescue website.

Watermark to display ‘Ninanda-minwaajim’ exhibit BEMIDJI — Watermark Art Center is set to display Joyce Jackson

and became homeless as a young woman. Knowing that her identity as a Native American was portrayed negatively because of stereotypes and racism, she began to use art as a way to portray her people in a positive light.”

Arndt likes to work with watercolor, oils and acrylic, the release said. Her mural work has been featured in Wadena and Detroit Lakes, Minn.

A reception for Arndt will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 15. The exhibit will be on display through Nov. 11.

St. John’s to host annual roast beef dinner

NEBISH — St. John’s Catholic Church will host its annual roast beef dinner from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 10, at the church, 27805 Irvine Ave. North in Nebish.

The dinner will include roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy, veggies, cucumbers, beets and desserts. The cost is $15 for adults, $5 for ages 6 to 12 and free for 5 and younger.

There will also be a craft and bake sale.

Oct. 7 and 8

Nov. 4 and 5

Registration for each clinic opens on the first of the month prior to the scheduled clinic. Income qualifications along with all available services and prices can be found on the Pet Fixers page of the Great River Rescue website

Registration for each clinic opens on the first of the month prior to the scheduled clinic. Income

Bemidji Area Aglow set to meet Sept. 9

BEMIDJI — Bemidji

Area Aglow is set to meet from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Sept. 9, at Beltrami Electric, 4111 Technology Drive NW. Featured speakers Susan Pender and Jill Torgerson will give their presentation, “How to Enter the Glory Realm.” All are welcome, free will offerings will be received.

Arndt’s exhibit, “Ninanda-minwaajim - I seek to tell a good story,” starting Saturday, Sept. 9, in Watermark’s Miikanan Gallery.

“The exhibit is a retrospective and contains many of her favorite pieces representative of her past,” a release said. “Arndt was cut off from her cultural identity during much of her childhood. As a toddler, she was placed in foster care

Watermark galleries are free and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

For more information, visit watermarkartcenter. org or call (218)-444-7570.

Bemidji Senior Center to hold pancake

breakfast BEMIDJI — The Bemidji Senior Center is set to host its monthly pancake breakfast from 8 to 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 9, at the senior center, 216 Third St. NW.

Parkinson’s Support Group set to meet Sept. 13

BEMIDJI — The Parkinson’s Support Group will hold its monthly meeting at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 13, at Sanford Health Windsong, 1010 Anne St. NW.

The group typically meets at 2 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month at the same location.

For more information, contact (218) 760-8266.

Bemidji Chorale seeks members ahead of upcoming season

BEMIDJI — The Bemidji Chorale invites those who enjoy singing and performing ensemble music to join the community organization under the direction of Dr. James Bowyer. Rehearsals are at 7 p.m. on Mondays in Bangsberg Hall at Bemidji State University.

The first rehearsal of the season is set for Sept. 11.

For more information, contact conductor James Bowyer by emailing james.bowyer@bemidjistate.edu or calling (206) 551-6147.

Clearwater County Historical Society to hold cemetery walks

SHEVLIN — As part of the Bagley and Shevlin quasquicentennial, the Clearwater County Historical Society will be offering cemetery walks at 1 and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 10.

With the theme “Founders and Pioneers,” the cemetery walks will tell the stories of the early settlers in Bagley and Shevlin.

Participants will meet at the Clearwater County History Center in Shevlin and will be taken by horse and wagon to the Shevlin City Cemetery and the Clearwater Lutheran Cemetery. Tours are set for 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Early Shevlin pioneers like the Rauk family, the Gordons, Thorps, Krohns and others will be included.

Volunteers are needed to portray the pioneers on the tour, a release said. They will dress in costume if possible and scripts will be provided. The tours are free to attend but donations are welcome. Refreshments will be served.

Participants should wear comfortable shoes and be prepared to walk some distance, the release said.

In case of inclement weather, the walks will be canceled. For more information or to volunteer, call the History Center at (218) 785-2000.

Senior Center to offer Matter of Balance classes

BEMIDJI — The Bemidji Senior Center will offer Matter of Balance classes at 9:30 a.m. each Friday from Sept. 15 through Nov. 3 at the center, 216 Third St. NW. Participants are required to attend at least five of the eight classes. Class is limited to a minimum of eight and a maximum of 12 participants. For more details visit the senior center or call (218) 751-8836.

Beltrami County Historical Society photo

1959 PAUL BUNYAN LEAGUE BASEBALL CHAMPS, the Carr Lake ball club. Back row (left to right): Manager Ed Fenske, Bill Schultz, Harold Moen, Jerry Johnson, Pete Barthelemy, Terry Nelson, Harold Fenske, Billy Bleth, and Business Manager Walt Fenske. Front row: George Carter, Gail Dow, Fred Swenson, Sid Nelson, Bob Fenske, Don Miller and Dale Lauderbaugh. Not pictured: Bill Collard and Jerry Moen.

National Grandparents Day open house set at Clearwater County History Center

SHEVLIN — The Clearwater County Historical Society will observe National Grandparents Day with an open house from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 10, at the history center, 264 First St.  National Grandparents Day started in 1978 when President Jimmy Carter signed a proclamation making the Sunday after Labor Day “National Grandparents Day.”

September was chosen for the holiday to signify the “autumn years.” Its purpose is to honor grandparents, give grandparents an opportunity to show love for their children’s children and to help children become aware of the strength, information and guidance older people can offer, a release said.

“The Clearwater County Historical Society encourages grandparents to bring their grandchildren to the museum and share their memories with them,” the release said. “Not a grandparent yet? Bring your grandparent or an older person to enjoy the museum.”

Admission is free. Root beer floats and other refreshments will be served.

For more information

or to volunteer, call the History Center at (218) 785-2000.

Storytime at the Carnegie to resume

Sept. 11

BEMIDJI — The city of Bemidji Parks and Recreation Department will host Storytime at the Carnegie from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. on Mondays starting Sept. 11 and going through May 13 at the Historic Carnegie Library’s Lakeview Room, 426 Bemidji Ave. N.

Storytime at the Carnegie is a free program for preschoolers, a release said. Each session will include storytime, games and a craft.

The program is in partnership with the Friends of the Carnegie. Register at the event or online at www.ci.bemidji.mn.us.

For more information contact (218) 333-1862.

Defensive Driving Refresher Courses scheduled

BEMIDJI — Defensive Driving Refresher Courses will be offered from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 11, and from 5 to 9 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 25, through Zoom.

The four-hour refresher courses are for drivers age 55 and older that have already had an eight-hour beginner’s course and want to continue receiving a discount on their insurance. The instructor

for the classes will be retired Minnesota State Patrol Trooper Mike Flatley. The cost of the course is $14. To pre-register, contact (218) 750-3189 or email mnflats@hotmail. com.  For more information on Flatley’s upcoming courses, visit mndefensivedriving.blogspot.com.

Heartsaver First Aid CPR and AED courses set

BEMIDJI — The city of Bemidji Parks and Recreation Department will hold Heartsaver First Aid CPR and AED courses from 5 to 8 p.m. on Sept. 11, Oct. 9 and Nov. 6, at Bemidji State’s Gillett Wellness Center, 1801 Birch Lane NE.

The class is geared toward anyone with little or no medical training who needs a course completion card for their job, regulatory, or other requirements, or anyone who wants to be prepared for an emergency in any setting, a release said.

Upon successful completion of the course, students receive a course completion card, valid for two years.

The course will teach: First aid basics. Medical emergencies.

• Injury emergencies.

• Environmental emergencies. Preventing illness and injury.

1. Adult CPR and AED use.

Opioid-associated lifethreatening emergencies.

Optional modules in child CPR AED and infant CPR.

The cost is $105 per participant. For more information or to register, visit www.ci.bemidji. mn.us or call (218)-3331862.

HCLL presents ‘Area Arts Opportunities’  PARK RAPIDS — Headwaters Center for Lifelong Learning will host Dawn Rossbach’s presentation, “Area Arts Opportunities,” from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 12, at The Event Room, 1104 Park Ave. S in Park Rapids.

Rossbach, a retired art teacher and enthusiastic participant in area arts events, will help the audience discover just how far the arts have come as she describes events, activities, groups, participation opportunities, galleries and more.

“Often we look at the arts as something frivolous and an activity to fill our time,” she said in a release. “In the last 10 years, the arts have grown exponentially in Park Rapids and are now becoming a permanent part of the landscape.”

Rossbach will preview the popular Arts Leap coming in late September and delve into ways that

area artists support one another and the burgeoning local art scene.

This program is open to the public, free of charge and handicap accessible. HCLL programs will be presented at The Event Room each Tuesday from Sept. 5 to Oct. 24.

Gallery North seeking artists for Summer Sampler Season

BEMIDJI — Gallery

North recently announced its first-ever Summer Sampler Season, a program that will feature artists’ work at the gallery through September.  Gallery North is inviting artists who have never shown at the gallery to display and sell their work for the summer.

2D artists will be limited to displaying two works of art at a time, with a size limit of 20 by 16 inches. JPEG images and a description of the medium and size of the artwork can be submitted by emailing deedeeminn@yahoo.com.

3D artists will also be limited to two works of art displayed at a time. Artists can stop in at Gallery North to show samples of their 3D artwork during regular business hours. Pieces sent by artists will be juried.

All artists selling at the gallery are required to fill

out a W-9 for IRS reporting purposes. Gallery North will keep 20% of the price on sold items.

The Summer Sampler Season will run through September. There is no deadline but space is limited so artists are welcome to participate as space allows. To learn more, visit gallerynorthbemidji.com.

Medicare assistance available from Senior LinkAge Line  BEMIDJI — Dancing Sky Area Agency on Aging Senior LinkAge Line staff will provide one-to-one assistance on Medicare Part D plans and other issues by appointment only from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 12, at Community Resource Connections, 716 Paul Bunyan Drive NW. Clients must call the Senior LinkAge Line at (800) 333-2433 to schedule an appointment for that day.

Senior LinkAge Line staff provide information and assistance with Medicare billing issues, Medicare Supplements, Medicare Advantage Plans and Medicare Part D prescription drug plans.Senior LinkAge Line is the State Health Insurance Assistance for Minnesota as designated by the Centers for Medicare Services.

This maybethe mostpolarizing American Faces story yet, due to the background behind my subject. But making a judgment like that, Ithink, is wholeheartedlywrong. I’m nottrying to start anything, or even end something. Ijust want you to take afew moments and get to knowSam.

Sam Smith has been apart of hisNorthern Minnesota community in one way or another hiswholelife. He loves his wife and kids and servedhis countryinthe Navy and has served people in traumatic timesasafirst responder.There is compassion in his eyes,and his “protector”spirit is clearly evident as Sam speaksabout his life.

This family man doesn’t take lightly the ownershipofhis gunshop called OffGrid Armory in Shevlin, MN near Lake Itasca State Park.The store –literally offthe normal grid –offersfirearms, ammunition and an amazing array of old military gear and historicgunsrivalingmany museums. Sam and hisstaff strive to train people in responsible gun ownership andstrategies for selfprotection, should the needarise. It’snot just abouta gun sale. It’sabout getting to know his customers, whattheir specific concernsmight be, or how that firearmmight serve them in their chosen shooting sport. For Sam, it’sabout us all being goodtoone another,and it starts by him listening to his customer.The classes Sam and his staff teach on site are usually full. His students learn to safely use,care for and handle their firearms –vitalresponsibilities learned while friendships are forged.

If you're stillreading, thanks for sticking with this story.Ifthe background of the image caused you to pause, I’m glad youdidn’t make asnapjudgment andscroll on past. Because if you had, you wouldhave shortchanged yourself, missing out on getting to know alittlebit about Sam.Yes, he’sthe owner of the OffGrid Armory.He’salsoa fellow humanbeing, aman whohas servedour country,a caregiver and aguardianfor his community

Thankyou for your service Sam!

Editingby: Scott Whitman

YOUR FIREARM

Photos/Story by: Nielsen Studios

Classic Country Band to perform Sept. 13

BEMIDJI — The Classic Country Band will perform for a free dance from 1 to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 13, at the Bemidji Senior Center, 216 Third St. NW.

The event is open to all ages of the public for your listening and dancing pleasure, a release said.

For more information, contact (218) 751-8836.

Intro to Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts event scheduled

BEMIDJI — Bemidji area youth are invited to attend an introduction to Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts of America event from 6 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 13, at Bemidji High School.

The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.

Cub Scouts is a gradespecific program for boys and girls in grades K-5.

“We provide readymade opportunities for your family to do fun things together because together we can all grow into our best future selves,” a release said.

Boy Scouts is the traditional scouting experience for youth ages 11-17 where boys and girls can

have their share of adventure in the great outdoors.

“Develop a love of service by volunteering in your community, boost your leadership skills through fun and exciting challenges, and create memories of a lifetime with no prior scouting experience required,” the release said.

For more information, contact Michelle Bedford at (215) 983-1665 or michelle.bedford@scouting.org.

Watermark to offer book marketing support group

BEMIDJI — Watermark

Art Center is offering a book marketing support group where authors can learn how to market their books on the third Thursday of every month starting in September.

The monthly membership club will offer authors the opportunity to focus on necessary marketing tasks, have accountability to get their marketing done and receive tutelage from an expert book marketing coach.

The group is for serious authors of all publishing paths, a release said.

Authors will learn from Emily Enger, founder of Good Enough Book Marketing, and spend time working on the marketing strategies they choose.

The club will hold

meetings from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of every month starting in September and running through April 2024, at Watermark’s education studio.

Preferred participants are authors of creative genres such as fiction, creative narrative nonfiction or poetry.  Due to limited space, participants must submit an application prior to registration, the release said. If accepted, applicants will receive further instructions to complete the course registration.

The application process is free. If accepted, the cost for the course is $500. Apply online at watermarkartcenter.org.

until Oct. 20. Each family can enter one scarecrow.  Senior center visitors will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite scarecrow, the release said. The two scarecrows with the most votes will receive $30 and $20 gift cards. For more information, call (218) 751-8746.

Four Pines Bookstore to host author Byron Graves

and trucks. The Craft Shop will be open during breakfast so attendees can check out handmade items by local members, a release said.

Car collectors are asked to bring their special auto and share their stories with the guests.

Everyone is welcome, a free-will offering will be taken for the breakfast to raise funds to help the senior center with operating expenses.

those wishing to dance and spectators are welcome to join the fun. A potluck dinner will follow each dance. For more information, call Scott in the evenings at (218) 766-3544 or Carole during the day at (218) 766-9346.

Laporte American Legion to hold fundraising event

Bemidji

Senior Center to hold scarecrow contest

BEMIDJI — The Bemidji Senior Center is set to hold a scarecrow contest and will be accepting entries from 9 a.m. to noon on Friday, Sept. 15, at the senior center, 216 Third St. NW.

All scarecrows must be entered during the entry time period on Sept. 15, a release said. Scarecrows must be created and not purchased.

They may sit or stand, must be at least four feet tall, contain no political or inappropriate materials or themes, and are required to remain indoors at the center

BEMIDJI — Four Pines Bookstore will host Red Lake author Byron Graves at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16, at the bookstore, 102 Third St. NW. Graves’ compelling debut novel, “Rez Ball,” tells the relatable, highstakes story of a young athlete determined to play like the hero his Ojibwe community needs him to be, a release said. A ticket is needed for entry. Tickets can be purchased in-store at Four Pines Bookstore or online at fourpinesbookstore. com.

Blackduck Senior Center to hold ‘Cars and Cakes’  BLACKDUCK — The Blackduck Senior Center will host a “Cars and Cakes” event from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16, at the senior center, 24 First St. SE. The event will feature a pancake breakfast plus a viewing of collector cars

First City Squares set 2023-2024 dance schedule

BEMIDJI — Starting in September, the First City Squares will host dances from 2 to 4:30 p.m. on Sundays each month through May at the Bemidji United Methodist Church, 924 Beltrami Ave NW.

Dances are set for the following dates:

Sept. 17 with Abe Maier calling

• Oct. 15 with Tom Allen calling

Nov. 19 with Larry Johansen calling

Dec. 17 with Charlie Huhtala calling

• Jan. 21 with Myron Hollatz calling

• Feb. 18 with Larry

Johansen calling

March 17 with Tom Allen calling

• April 21 with Brian

Freed calling

• May 19 with Abe Maier calling All square dancers,

LAPORTE — The Laporte American Legion Auxiliary will host a “Great Minnesota Hot Dish Fundraiser and Bake Sale” event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 24, at the Laporte Town Hall next to the water tower.

There will be hot dishes, salads, rolls and beverages served with a bake sale for a free-will offering to raise funds for veterans and scholarships.

Bemidji Senior Center to hold annual meeting

BEMIDJI — The Bemidji Senior Center will hold its annual meeting and member appreciation event at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 26, in the dining room of the center, 216 Third St. NW.

All center members are encouraged to attend; there will be refreshments, voting on new board members and door prizes. For more information, call (218) 751-8836.

Natural Choice Farmers Market open each Saturday

BEMIDJI — Bemidji’s

Natural Choice Farmer’s Market is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday through the end of October, in the parking lot in front of Frizzel Furniture at Second Street and Beltrami Avenue in downtown Bemidji.

The vendors, all from the Bemidji area, offer naturally grown produce and flowers, homemade baked goods, jellies, jams and pickles, meats and a variety of crafts. Local musicians will provide entertainment while customers shop.

Many of the vendors now accept SNAP/EBT payments and the market will match the first $10 of EBT purchases with coupons good for another $20 of produce and food purchases. Follow the market on Facebook for weekly updates on what is happening at the market.

Dwight Yoakam to perform at the Sanford Center

Oct. 12

BEMIDJI — Country

singer-songwriter Dwight Yoakam, along with special guest band The Mavericks, are set to perform at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 12, at the Sanford Center.

“Dwight Yoakam has sold more than 25 million albums worldwide, and he is a 21-time nominated, multiple Grammy award winner,” a release said. “He has 12 gold albums and nine platinum or multi-platinum albums, with five of those albums topping Billboard’s Country Albums chart and another 14 landing in the top 10.”

Founded in 1989, The Mavericks are a country music band from Miami, Fla., consisting of Raul Malo, Paul Deakin, Eddie Perez and Jerry Dale McFadden.

“Fusing traditional country with a rich variety of rock, pop and Latin influences, The Mavericks became one of the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful groups of the early ‘90s,” the release said. “The group’s run of hits faded in the 21st century, and they spent most of the 2000s on hiatus, yet they still held on to a loyal fan base who embrace the group’s enthusiastic eclecticism.”

Tickets for the concert start at $39.50 plus applicable fees are on sale now at ticketmaster.com.

Beltrami Area Service Collaborative sets meetings  BEMIDJI — The Beltrami Area Service Collaborative’s next meeting is set for Oct. 11. All meetings will run from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on select Wednesdays and are open to the public.

“For more than 20 years, the Beltrami Area Service Collaborative has successfully partnered with area stakeholders to plan, implement and sustain prevention and early intervention services for the children and families of Beltrami County,” The BASC website reads.

“BASC has been recognized as a leader in Minnesota’s Collaborative movement.”

A meeting is also set for Dec. 13.

Contact the BASC Office at (218) 333-8190 for the Zoom link or location

information.

Minnesota Elks Youth Camp raffle tickets available BEMIDJI — Tickets are now available for the once-a-year special Minnesota Elks Youth Camp Raffle opportunity.

The tickets are $100 each, and all funds raised will go toward sending 20 children from the Bemidji area to spend a week at the Minnesota Elks Youth Camp in Nisswa.

Prize money is based on 1,000 tickets sold. The first-place winner will receive $6,000, second will receive $4,000, third will receive $3,000, fourth will receive $2,000, fifth will receive $1,000, and 50 sixth-place prizes of $500 will be awarded along with 45 seventh-place prizes of $200.

Participants must be 18 years and older. The drawing will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Oct. 21 at the camp, participants do not need to be present to win.

Contact Bill Batchelder at (218) 751-5166 or bill. batchelder@hotmail.com to purchase tickets.

Senior Center to hold monthly Senior Book Club

BEMIDJI — The Bemidji Senior Center invites the public to join its Senior Book Club at 1 p.m. on the first Monday of each month, at the senior center, 216 Third St. NW.  Come prepared to share impressions of the book

Comfort. Relief. Dignity.

At Sanford Bemidji Home Care & Hospice, our end-of-life care focuses on uplifting every patient’s quality of life. We provide patients and their families with the physical, emotional and spiritual support they need through the next steps of life’s journey.

Call (218) 333-5665 today.

Sanford Bemidji Home Care & Hospice

3201 Pine Ridge Ave. NW Suite A Bemidji, MN 56601

and questions. For more information, contact (218) 751-8836.

Meals on Wheels seeks Bemidji area volunteers

BEMIDJI — The local Meals on Wheels program is seeking volunteers to help deliver meals to seniors in the area who need a hot meal and someone to check up on them.

For more information or to sign up to be a volunteer driver, call Jenny at (218) 444-3987.

Bemidji Duplicate Bridge Club held each Tuesday

BEMIDJI — Bemidji’s Duplicate Bridge Club has begun for the season and will play each Tuesday from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the Bemidji Eagles Club, 1270 Neilson Ave. SE.

For more information, contact George Zenk at (701) 739-6042.

Rural development loans available from USDA BEMIDJI — USDA Rural Development is now accepting applications for low- and very low-income individuals and families seeking to purchase or repair a home in a rural area. The Direct Home Loan program offers financing to qualified very-low and low-income applicants who are unable to qualify for traditional financing, a release said.

No down payment is required, and the interest rate could be as low as 1% with a subsidy. Applicants must meet income and credit guidelines and demonstrate repayment ability. The program is available in rural communities of generally 35,000 people or less.

The maximum loan amount is $40,000 at a 1% interest rate, repayable for a 20-year term and can be used to improve or modernize homes and do essential repairs, the release said.

Grants of up to $10,000 are available to homeowners 62 and older and must be used to remove health or safety hazards, such as fixing a leaking roof, installing indoor plumbing or replacing a furnace.

Time is limited to receive funds for the current fiscal year. Those interested can contact a USDA Rural Development Housing Specialist to see if they qualify at (218) 751-1942.

USDA Rural Development loans and grants provide assistance that supports infrastructure improvements, business development, housing, community services such as schools, public safety and health care and highspeed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www. rd.usda.gov/mn.

Comedian Jeff Dunham to bring ‘Still Not Canceled’ tour to

Bemidji BEMIDJI —

The Sanford Center is set to host comedian Jeff Dunham on his “Still Not Canceled” tour at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 5, at the center, 1111 Event Center Drive NE.

One artist, five characters, Dunham is returning to the Sanford Center after almost a decade.

“With millions of fans, sold-out global tours, ratings-shattering broadcasts, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and a few Guinness Book of World Records set for good measure, Jeff Dunham is a versatile entertainer globally known, not only for his cadre of characters but also for his ability to connect with his audiences through his comedy regardless of culture, gender, age, or political beliefs,” a release said.

Tickets are on sale now for $59.50 plus applicable fees at the Sanford Center ticket office or on ticketmaster.com.

Bingo scheduled at Blackduck Senior Center

BLACKDUCK — Everyone is invited to play Bingo at the Blackduck Senior Center at 1 p.m. every Thursday. You do not need to be a member of the Senior Center to take part. This is open to the surrounding community.

How to care for your perennials

METRO CREATIVE SERVICES

Perennials can add color and vibrancy to any garden. One of the more desirable components of perennials is that they come back year after year, meaning homeowners do not have to invest in a gardenful of new flowers every year. That can add up to considerable savings. Perennials often form the foundation of beautiful gardens.

Annuals only grow for one season, produce seeds and then die. However, perennials die back to the ground every autumn and their roots survive the winter. So the plants reemerge in the spring, according to The Farmer’s Almanac. Some perennials are shortlived, meaning they will come back a few consecutive years; others will last for decades.

Though planted perennials require less maintenance than annuals, they

are not completely maintenance-free. Certain care is needed to help perennials thrive, and that starts with the soil. In fact, soil is the single most important factor for growing healthy plants. Penn State Extension says most perennials grow ideally in well drained, fertile soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0. In addition, organic matter can improve soil texture and water-holding ability.

When including perennials in the garden, make sure you wait for the right time to plant them. The ideal time is during the spring or fall. Perennials come as containergrown perennials, which already have been established in the soil. Bareroot perennials are just roots that are often packed in peat moss. In order to plant bare-root perennials, soak the roots in water for several minutes before gently planting in the ground, indi-

cates the how-to resource Tip Bulletin. Perennials should be watered deeply, especially during the first growing season. However, the soil should never be overly dry or wet. Most perennials do not need to be fertilized heavily. A single application in the spring typically is all that’s needed.

Care along the way can include deadheading spent flowers so that plants can use their energy on seed production and reblooming. Perennials should be divided when they grow large, every three to four years when the plants are not in bloom. Perennials produce fewer flowers or may look sickly when the time has passed to divide them. Early spring often is a good time to divide perennials, advises The Farmer’s Almanac. A thick layer of mulch can help perennials to overwinter successfully.

As long as sunlight requirements match plant needs,

Perennials planted in containers will need to be transplanted into the garden before it gets cold because most containers cannot thoroughly insu-

late perennial roots. Apart from these strategies, perennials pretty much take care of themselves. As long as sunlight requirements match

plant

the

als should thrive.

Budget-friendly ways to upgrade a landscape

An inviting, well-tended landscape can add significant curb appeal to a home. Such a landscape also can serve as a point of pride and welcome homeowners each evening as they arrive home from work.

Landscaping projects run the gamut from simple changes that can be accomplished on a weekend afternoon to more significant and costly undertakings that require the work of a professional. Budget-conscious homeowners may be looking for simpler projects, and the following are some less costly ways to upgrade a landscape.

• Add a pop of color

with planters. Awe-inspiring colors can make a landscape stand out from surrounding properties. Flowers, bushes and plants may be the first thing homeowners consider when trying to add color to their lawns, but planters can provide a more immediate way to give exterior grounds some color. Bold planters won’t lose their color in a matter of weeks like many flowers do, and homeowners can switch planters so the colors align with the season. For example, some pastel planters can evoke the spirit of spring, while orange planters can be filled with mums to give a

landscape an autumnal feel.

• Plant perennials around the property. Wellmaintained perennials grow back each year, making them ideal for homeowners who don’t have the time or desire to map out new gardening arrangements each spring. Planting perennials also is a great way to add color around the property without breaking the bank.

• Upgrade walkways. Though it’s more expensive than adding planters and planting perennials, upgrading old and cracked walkways is a great way to give a property a whole new look.

According to the renovation experts at HomeAdvisor, homeowners typically pay between $6 and $12 per square foot for new concrete walkway installation. Homeowners working on a budget can target spots where walkways have already cracked and fix those areas first before continuing the project piecemeal until all the old walkways have been replaced.

• Plant to create privacy. Homeowners spent more time at home than ever before during the pandemic, and some might have grown tired of seeing what their neighbors are up to. Fencing might be the first solution

homeowners consider when looking to make their landscapes more private. But new fencing installation can be expensive, costing homeowners between $1,667 and $4,075 on average, according to BobVila.com. A more costly and natural solution is to plant trees around the perimeter. Speak with a local landscaping professional, who can survey the property to see which trees might thrive and provide the privacy homeowners want.

Creating an inviting landscape doesn’t have to break the bank. Various small and relatively inexpensive projects can

needs,

perenni-

Metro Creative Services photo

the perennials should thrive.

Walleyes are hunkering down during outing

Tuesday’s NOAA weather forecast made me happy, until it didn’t happen. In the morning, it was supposedly going to be from the south, in the afternoon, it would switch to the northwest.

Great, I thought, we can drift along the weedline, and wiggle worm our way up the west side of the lake in the morning, then drift back south along the east shore in the afternoon; the perfect plan.

Instead of drifting in either direction, we wound up creeping along on what turned out to be glassy smooth water until late afternoon. The smooth surface didn’t kill the fishing plan, but it did change it.

Once we were on the water, I told the crew that we’d start our day with an experiment. I motored to a spot where we’d caught a couple of crappies one day last week. I

pulled along the outer edges of the weeds, handed the boys each a rod and said, “Cast toward the shoreline, let the jigs drop into the gaps and pockets between weeds and try to keep a tight line as it falls,” The instruction paid off fast, there were crappies in the weeds, and they were cooperative. The presentation wasn’t much different than anything I’ve described before. We used 1/16-ounce Lindy Live Bait Jigs tipped with plastic tails, cast them toward the weeds, and allowed as much drop time as possible before getting snagged. I had given the boys a choice of 3 plastic

tails, 2 of them were ripple shads, each a different color and 1 of them was a Strike King, Mr. Crappie “Slabalicious”. By chance, they’d chosen the ripple shads, so I tipped my jig with the slabalicious. It was the first time I’ve tried them, but the one I was using seemed to be working better than the ripple shads. The knobby tails produce more swimming action as they fall or when they’re swimming horizontally. It wasn’t that long before we were all using them. Because the water was so calm, we could see some of the fish strike as they appeared from below a mix of flat-stemmed pondweed, coontail and cabbage. I couldn’t tell if there was one type of plant that they preferred, the fish seemed to be happy anywhere that was shaded. Sunfish were there too, but they were much less willing to pop out of the weeds, that was

true everywhere yesterday; we caught some bluegills, but the sunshine and calm water definitely had them hunkered down.

The walleyes were not impossible to catch, but they were hunkered down too. Wiggle worming works when calm seas force me to troll instead of drift. But the process takes longer, is more complicated for the crew and can result in more tangled lines. We stuck with the presentation until we’d caught 3 or 4 walleyes and then I tried trolling spinners. We caught a few, a mix of crappie, sunfish, northern, 1 small walleye and a sucker. But our goal of catching walleyes would be accomplished easier by switching back to wiggle worms, I believed, so we switched back to that.

Our walleye fishing was destined to improve, but not because of anything we did. The predict-

ed afternoon wind finally arrived, and really helped us out. About a half hour after the surface began churning, the walleyes started moving and became easier to catch. Before we wrapped for the day, we’d managed to harvest 10 of them. Combined with the crappies from earlier, the larder

Jeff Sundin is a full-time professional fishing guide, outdoor writer and photographer.

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