WCCO - Community Calendar

TARGETING TYPE 1 DIABETES
Families of those with type 1 diabetes are urged to attend a free health fair to find out their risk for developing type 1 diabetes, and to explore new technology available for monitoring this Number 1 chronic illness of childhood.

There will be entertainment, prizes, and refreshments. There is no cost for this event, sponsored by the University of Minnesota Pediatric department.

The fair will be held August 22 & 23 , from 10AM to 4 PM
at Stony Lake Office Park, 2459 15th St., SW, New Brighton

The Minneapolis Mosaic
The Minneapolis Mosaic, a celebration of cultural diversity through the arts, will be held at venues throughout the city of Minneapolis all summer long, with over 100 music, dance, theater, visual arts, film and literary arts events offered. For more information, please check out www.minneapolismosaic.com

Ripple Effect
September 2nd 2008
State Capitol lawn
12:30pm to 7pm FREE
FEATURING: MICHAEL FRANTI and SPEARHEAD, ANTI-FLAG, DEAD PREZ, WOOKIEFOOT w/MATISYAHU, I SELF DEVINE, INDIGO, THE SUSTAINABLE LIVING ROADSHOW, MEDEA BENJAMIN (co-founder of CODEPINK & Global Exchange) WILL STEGER (polar explorer and global warming activist) and many more to be announced!
Trainings, educational workshops, community building activities, music, and art in the name of positive social and environmental change.
These events are aimed at embracing the core values of the environmental and social justice movements, with a collective understanding that the solutions to these problems will require us to break down issue and generational barriers.
“Ripple Effect” - a daylong festival propelling a new wave of progressive action outside the RNC - will go beyond the convention and beyond partisanship to empower and unite a diverse range of people with varying backgrounds and interests.
For more information please visit www.rippleeffect08.com.

Andersons' Rock Creek Relics Threshing and Sawing Show
The 19th annual Threshing and Sawing show is set to take place September 6th and 7th. The event is located 60 miles norht of the cities in Rush City and is $8/day. The show includes over 200 tractors, dozens of gas engines, rock crushign, basket weaving, games, crafts, food and more. For more information contact Duane Anderson at 320-358-4844.

Burnsville Fire Muster
September 3-7, 2008 Civic Center Park, Burnsville MN. Event features a fire truck parade, live entertainment featuring High Noon on Friday and CBO on Saturday evening. Food, fireworks, carnival rides, and more. Cost: $5 at gate. Contact: email@burnsvillefiremuster.com www.burnsvillefiremuster.com for more information

HOLY FAMILY ANNUAL FALL FESTIVAL
Everything from BINGO to baklava will be featured at Holy Family Catholic Church's Annual Lebanese Fall Festival. For the first time, all of the events will be held at the church's new campus at 1960 Lexington Ave. S., Mendota Heights, MN. (Formerly Royal Redeemer Lutheran Church)

The BINGO will be held Friday, Sept. 5, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at 1960 Lexington Ave. S., Mendota Heights. There will be multiple $50 cash prizes, two $250 coveralls and Lebanese food for sale.

The outdoor festival will be held Sunday, Sept. 7, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 1960 Lexington Ave. S., Mendota Heights. Admission is free. There will be food for sale, including homemade shish kabob, baked kibbi, falafel, hummus, tabbouleh and baklava. There will also be children's games, Lebanese music and dancing, tip boards, a large silent auction and a raffle with a $1,500 grand prize. A liturgy will be held before the festival, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., at the new church.

Questions? Call the church at 651-291-1116

Opportunity Partners Fundraising Gala
Date: Saturday, September 13
Time: 5:30-9:30 pm
Place: Northland Inn, 7025 Northland Dr N, Minneapolis, MN 55428
Tickets: $100 and up
Funds raised from When I Wish will benefit Opportunity Partners’ employment, housing and educational services for people with disabilities. For more information on tickets, sponsorships and donating auction items, please contact Sara Maaske at 952-912-2492 or email events@opportunities.org. For more information visit www.opportunitypartners.org

PurpleRide Twin Cities
The 3rd annual PurpleRide Twin Cities takes place on Saturday, September 13, 2008, at Elm Creek Regional Park in Maple Grove, Minnesota. The event is a fundraiser for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and a day of family fun. Choose from 8-, 25-, or 50-mile well-supported bike routes and help us raise money for the fight against pancreatic cancer, the 4th leading cause of cancer death in the United States. At the end of the bike ride, enjoy lunch, many family activities, a raffle drawing, and ceremonies celebrating our fundraisers. To learn more or to register, please visit www.purpleride.org.

Opportunity Partners' Fundraising Gala "When I Wish"
This annual gala helps to raise money for Opportunity Partners, which is a non-profit organization providing employment, education and housing for people with developmental disabilities, autism, brain injury and other special needs. Tickets for this years gala are $100 and include entertainment and games, an elegant dinner, and a silent and live auction. Many local celebrities will also be in attendance. For more information visit www.opportunitypartners.org or contact Sara Maaske at 952-912-2492.

Silent No More - 9th Annual Walk/Run for Ovarian Cancer
The 9th Annual 5k for ovarian cancer helps to raise money for MOCA which is a non-profit organization that educates and raises awareness about ovarian cancer. The event takes place at Rosland Park in Edina. For more information please visit www.mnovarian.org.

The Abilities Expo
This three-day expo is dedicated to improving and educating the lives of people with disabilities, senior citizens, their families and caregivers. The event will be held at the Minneapolis Convention Center from September 12th to September 14th. For more information visit www.abilitiesexpo.com.

7th Annual MN Tile Festival
Saturday September, 20th 2008
10 am to 5 pm
$5 Gate At the American Swedish Institute
2600 Park Ave South, Minneapolis, MN 55407

The 7th Annual Minnesota Tile Festival will bring together 40 of the most talented, skilled, and award winning tile artists in the country. The MN Tile Festival showcases a hybrid mixture of arts festival and trade show all about handmade art tiles and mosaics. The festival is presented at historic setting of the American Swedish Institute. As our host the American Swedish Institute will be giving free tours of the Turnblad mansion with a focus on its eleven historic tiled stoves. For more information please visit http://handmadetileassociation.org/MNTileFestival.htm

Career Transition for Dancers National Outreach Project
Career Transition for Dancers will present its National Outreach Project
Workshop for dancers; which is FREE of Charge, on Sunday, September 21st, at Minnesota Dance Theatre & Dance Institute; 528 Hennepin Avenue, 6th Floor.
We are a non-profit organization offering free workshops and counseling for dancers, teachers and choreographers. We have helped thousands of dancers to reach their career endeavors with educational grants and funding for new businesses.
There will be an open Forum from 11am – 2 pm with a free lunch; and one-on-one counseling by appointment only from 2:30 – 6:30pm. This entire event is FREE of charge. You must RSVP.
Call (323) 549-6660 ask for Carolyn or Joanne or Email: cdyer@sag.org or jdivito@sag.org to schedule an appointment or get more information.

Minneapolis Institute of Arts Art Perchance 2008
Art Perchance will take place Friday, September 26, 2008. The "midway" of
carnival games is open from 7 to 9 P.M., along with opportunities for food, art
viewing, a photo booth, and a silent auction. The art drawing begins at 9
P.M. Museum doors close at 11 P.M. Basic ticket price is $75, which includes
3 tokens for the art drawing. Patron-level tickets, from $150 to $500, include
an increased number of tokens, free valet parking, and a chance to meet the
artists and preview the art at a reception, beginning at 6 P.M.

For ticket information, please call (612) 870-3279. Space is limited, so please
purchase tickets by September 19. For more information, contact the Friends
office at (612) 870-3045 or at friends@artsmia.org. Information can also be
found at www.artsmia.org.

Kaposia, inc. Announces Third Annual ?Walk for Wheels?
Kaposia, inc., a Twin Cities based nonprofit organization that provides job development and retirement services for individuals with developmental disabilities, will host its third annual Walk for Wheels, on Saturday, September 27 at the East Picnic Pavilion in Como Park, St. Paul. This year’s goal for Walk for Wheels is to raise $45,000 to purchase a new wheel-chair accessible van to transport individuals served by Kaposia to and from their jobs, volunteer activities, and other community opportunities.

Individuals and teams can both participate. Individuals can walk, jog, rollerblade, or walk their pet as part of the event. For more information or to register, go to www.kaposia.com.

James J. Hill House
The James J. Hill House in St. Paul will be the starting point for Summit Avenue Walking Tours each Saturday and Sunday, through September 28, with guided tours focusing on the architecture, original owners, social history, and current preservation issues facing this nationally-recognized historic district. For rates and times, dial 651/297-2555, or visit www.mnhs.org/hillhouse

Nobel Gowns of Queen Silvia of Sweden
The American Swedish Institute presents an exhibit of gowns worn by Queen Silvia Sommerlath of Sweden. Since she became the queen in 1976 designers such as Christian Dior, Nina Ricci and Yuki have designed gowns for the queen to wear to the annual Nobel Prize festivities. These gowns will be on display at the American Swedish Institute until September 28th. For more information visit www.americanswedishinst.org.

Minnesota County Fair's Full Listings!
Minnesota boasts some 800 festivals & events each year, which means you, can always find a reason to celebrate*outdoor concerts, county fairs, art crawls, historical reenactments and of course, the Minnesota State Fair.

And speaking of “fairs”*if you haven’t taken time to visit a county fair in Minnesota, well*you just haven’t allowed yourself the opportunity to have a great time and experience the flavor of Minnesota.

As county fairs emerged on the American scene*eons ago*it was the one time of year that people could come together, mingle in one location and “get the news” from other parts of the state. In many cases, the crops were about to or had already been, harvested. School was about to begin and people just needed a time to have some fun and laugh and visit and “see what’s new”. Heck, they might even get Mom to ride that ‘big thing’ called a Ferris wheel way up there in the sky*maybe not. Mon was more likely to visit the home building to check out the competition to her entry in the pie baking contest. And after that she might mosey over to the ‘handiwork’ building to see the entries in the quilting and sewing contests.   Dad always checked out the latest farm equipment and talked with others about their “year on the land”.   And the youngsters? Well, the midway offered them just about everything you could ever want from rides to monsters to feats of strength. The visit to the midway might also include the possibility of a tender stomach after ingesting something from every food vendor on the fair grounds.

But the memories would last all winter and many times as the wind and snow whistled by the window, they would call up a memory from their visit to the county fair. And, from time to time, the conversation at the dinner table would include center around something they had seen or done at the fair and all would wonder what might be new next year.

There might even be a Teddy Bear displayed somewhere in the house that reminded everyone of when Dad knocked over those wooden milk bottles with a baseball.

Yup, those ARE the days.

Here is a listing of most of Minnesota’s county fairs, though some fairs had not confirmed their dates when this went to press. Listings note the county name followed by the city where the fair is held JULY
*    July 28-Aug 3 Olmsted, Rochester
*    July 29-Aug 2 Aitkin, Aitkin
*    July 29-Aug 2 Crow Wing, Brainerd
*    July 29-Aug 3 Freeborn, Albert Lea
*    July 30-Aug 3 Beltrami, Bemidji
*    July 30-Aug 3 Jackson, Jackson
*    July 30-Aug 3 Marshall, Warren
*    July 30-Aug 3 Pine, Pine City
*    July 30-Aug 3 Pope, Glenwood
*    July 30-Aug 3 St Louis, Chisholm
*    July 30-Aug 3 South St Louis, Proctor
*    July 31-Aug 2 Rock, Luverne
*    July 31-Aug 3 Blue Earth, Garden City
*    July 31-Aug 3 Lincoln, Tyler
*    July 31-Aug 3 Meeker, Litchfield
*    July 31-Aug 4 Washington, Lake Elmo
AUGUST
*    August 4-10 Dakota, Farmington
*    August 5-9 Goodhue, Zumbrota
*    August 5-10 Benton, Sauk Rapids
*    August 5-10 Mower, Austin
*    August 6-9 Kandiyohi, Willmar
*    August 6-10 Carver, Waconia
*    August 6-10 Clearwater, Bagley
*    August 6-10 Nicollet, St Peter
*    August 7-10 Lyon, Marshall
*    August 7-10 Mille Lacs, Princeton
*    August 7-10 Nobles, Worthington
*    August 8-10 Koochiching, Northome
*    August 10-13 Chippewa, Montevideo
*    August 12-17 Martin, Fairmont
*    August 12-17 Steele, Owatonna
*    August 13-16 Murray, Slayton
*    August 13-17 Brown, New Ulm
*    August 13-17 Houston, Caledonia
*    August 13-17 Itasca, Grand Rapids
*    August 13-17 Stevens, Morris
*    August 14-17 Cottonwood, Windom
*    August 14-17 Douglas, Alexandria
*    August 14-17 Lake, Two Harbors
*    August 14-17 Le Sueur, Le Center
*    August 16-19 Carlton, Barnum
*    August 21-24 Traverse, Wheaton

For additional information, go on line at www.exploreminnesota.com or call toll free... 1-800-TOURISM.

Rush River Produce's U-Pick Berry Farm
Every Thursday through Sunday from 8a to 2p the Rush River Produce farm is open for people to pick their own berries. This 9-acre farm offers red and black currants, gooseberries, and blueberries available for picking. The farm is located just outside of Maident Rock, Wisconsin. It is asked that you call ahead before visiting the farm. For more information or directions call 715-594-3648 or visit rushriverproduce.com

25th Annual Minneapolis Institute of Arts Antiques Show & Sale
Minneapolis, July 15, 2008-This October the Minneapolis Institute of Arts
(MIA) will present its 25th annual Antiques Show and Sale. This sale is the
leading antiques show of its kind in the upper Midwest. Forty nationally
renowned dealers offer a broad array of objects for purchase ranging from
eighteenth-century English silver and nineteenth-century American folk art to
twentieth-century Modernist design and everything in between. The show
also features lectures, dealer talks, and tours for both experienced and
novice collectors.

Regular Show Hours
Friday, October 24, 11 A.M.- 9 P.M.
Saturday, October 25, 11 A.M.- 5 P.M.
Sunday, October 26, 11 A.M.- 4 P.M.
Admission
Regular event admission $10 ($8 MIA members)
MIA Members Free Admission Day
Saturday, October 25

For more information, call (612) 870-3131 or visit www.artsmia.org.

Compassion Night: For Families of Inmates and Ex-Offenders
Compassion Night Starts
We meet every 2nd & 4th Friday of the month
Shiloh Temple International Ministries
Location: 1201 W Broadway Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55411

When a family member is incarcerated, it can seem like life comes to a stand-still for you and your family. Often feelings of hopelessness can defeat the most courageous efforts at keeping a family together. The uncertainties of life with a family member in prison can cause many setbacks mentally, emotionally, and materially.

The greatest need of your life can be met through love and under- standing. At Compassion Night, you’re free to come, enjoy good food and fellowship, learn new skills through quality workshops and activities taught from a Biblical perspective, and to be cared for without any fear that someone will pry into your private concerns.

9th Annual Feds Fest
The 9th Annual Feds Fest is a gala presented by the Edina Federated Women's Club. The event supports many community philanthropies and celebrates the Federated Women's Club 40 years of service to the community. For more information contact Sandy Phillips at 952-922-3300.