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The beginning of school is right around the corner, so be sure to slow down when driving in school zones and around school buses. Soon fall will be upon us, and we will be getting the yards and flowerbeds ready for winter. I am anticipating putting out my annual Christmas decorations. It seems the older I get, the longer it takes to get it all set up. But I have decided to persevere and put everything out at least one more year. The Gigantic Garage Sale will be held next weekend, Sept. 6 and 7,...
About two weeks ago, I attended the 60-year reunion of the Cloquet High School Class of 1964. If some of you are trying to figure out my age, I am 78 years young. To be honest, I have not attended some of the previous reunions for one reason or another. But I was determined to go to this one. It was held during a bright sunny summer day at the Big Lake Golf Club. No fancy food or program, just a nice get-together. It gave each of us a chance to say hello and talk to classmates we had not seen...
Congratulations to all the 2024 graduates in the area. Good luck and best wishes in your future endeavors. Let the graduation parties begin. This is the time for families to celebrate and honor their graduates’ accomplishments. Mark your calendars, this year’s Carlton Daze will be held July 26-28. More to come in the next Carlton Happenings column. Carlton Community CleanUp was held May 17. Despite the rainy and damp weather, 121 students and 13 staff braved the elements to rake 10 yards and...
This year’s Carlton Community Cleanup is May 17. Students from the high school will be out raking, picking up garbage and piling up branches across the city and Hillside Cemetery. If you need to have your yard cleaned, contact Leola Rodd at 218-310-6065. You must live within the city limits to receive this service. This past fall, Inter-Faith Care Center volunteer and friend Cecelia Anderson was named Volunteer of the Year by the Minnesota Statewide Activity Professionals. There are 600 a...
Thank you to Jennie Hanson, Wright/Cromwell News columnist, for reminding us about the Little Red Schoolhouse on the Carlton County Fair grounds in Barnum. I remember visiting the schoolhouse as a kid with my siblings during the fair. It is hard to believe that all student grade levels attended school in such a small building. Volunteers are asking for donations to purchase books and school supplies to give to kids during the Carlton County Fair held in August. Donations can be sent to CCRE c/o...
Happy St. Urho’s Day, March 16, to everyone of Finnish heritage. Happy St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, to everyone of Irish heritage. As the days get warmer and daylight lasts a little longer every day, many people begin to plan for summer activities. That also means the rummage and garage sale season is just around the corner. So, start cleaning out the attic, closets, basements and garages (I need to take my own advice, LOL) and donate to our local fundraisers held at the Four Seasons Com...
I hope everyone had a happy Valentine’s Day. As I recall, in Miss Otteson’s first-grade classroom we would get a brown paper lunch bag to decorate with hearts, construction paper and artwork to hang on our desks or in a special place in the classroom. On Valentine’s Day my classmates and I would put a card in each of the bags. Most of the cards were purchased at the local Ben Franklin Store in Cloquet, and addressed to each classmate. Toward the end of the day, each class in the Garfield Eleme...
There are only 25 days until Christmas Day, when families will get together for fun, food and presents. I remember how excited my brother, sister and I were to see the presents we got. For weeks we would look at the “Wish Book” (Sears and Montgomery Ward Christmas catalogs), choosing all the gifts we wanted Santa to bring us on Christmas Eve. Of course, we were happy with any presents we received. Our Christmas celebration really started between Thanksgiving and Christmas, when the Wood Con...
On Oct. 12, 1918 — 105 years ago — tragedy struck parts of Minnesota that included the communities of Kettle River, Moose Lake and Cloquet, areas of Duluth, and many smaller towns in the area. This was a devastating event for many families and businesses. I did not realize how close my family history was to the fire in Kettle River. My mother’s mother, Lucina Winquist, was living in Kettle River with her husband, Charles Winquist, and four children. They managed to escape to Moose Lake and survi...
Welcome back to all the students attending Carlton schools on Tuesday, Sept. 5. We are excited for our kids, and remember how we felt on that first day of grade school or junior high way back when. I wish all of the students a wonderful and successful year. The Carlton community has a long academic history. The citizens of the Village of Carlton petitioned for a school on Sept. 18, 1871, which became District No. 2. A small wooden structure was built, and one teacher, Miss Flora Lafan, was...
The Carlton Daze celebration was a wonderful event - even Mother Nature was on her best behavior. Thank you to the Carlton Area Chamber, local businesses and volunteers for making the celebration a success. The 29th annual 5K had great weather for the 130 walkers and runners participating in the race. I spent Saturday afternoon walking through the car show, visiting with friends and having lunch at one of the many food trucks. (This is a time when the diet goes out the window.) Sunday's parade...
Carlton has seen many celebrations over the years. As a kid visiting my aunt, uncle and cousins in Carlton, I remember a big celebration with a big carnival in the area where the N.P. Junction Pavilion is now located. It was an exciting weekend for a kid from the country. The community has always been supportive of the Carlton celebrations. This year the Carlton Daze Celebration will be held July 28-30. I checked at the Carlton County Historical Society in Cloquet to see if they had any...
The Carlton community is beginning to buzz with excitement as plans are being finalized for the annual community celebration. Circle July 28-29-30 on your calendar and come out to gather with family and friends for fun, food and live music for Carlton Daze at the Carlton VFW and the Third Base Bar. Don’t forget the parade at 1 p.m. Sunday, July 30. Live music will be provided by Stranded on July 28 and by Vinyl Recliner on July 29. Veterans interested in joining Carlton VFW Post 2962 and/or t...
Many of us are celebrating the beginning of summer by planting flowers and vegetable seeds in our gardens. Now is the season of graduation parties, rummage sales and family get-togethers. Maybe even a trip to someplace exciting and new. Everyone enjoy the next three months, and take time to smell the roses. Happy Father’s Day to the dads in our lives. Coming events Carlton VFW Post 2962 has bingo at 6:30 Wednesday evenings and a meat raffle at 6 p.m. Fridays. The VFW golf tournament is June 2...
As Mother’s Day is fast approaching, this is a reminder to get that special mom in your life a very special gift. I have some suggestions that don’t necessarily cost a lot of money. Spend a day with Mom, doing what she wants or maybe cooking a nice meal for her. If gardening is her passion, purchase some seeds or flowers that Mom and you can plant together. Or just give Mom a call (no texts, please) to wish her Happy Mother’s Day on May 14. There are many upcoming events in the Carlton area:...
Spring has arrived, and the snow drifts are going down slowly. I am looking forward to rescuing the Christmas decorations and lights, and checking out my drooping lilac bushes. Let’s all look forward to purchasing flowers (I like geraniums) and vegetables to plant in our gardens and special flower pots. Happy spring, everyone. There are many upcoming events in the Carlton area: April Glow in the Dark Rollerblading is 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 15 at the Four Seasons Complex. Freewill d...
Here I am again, watching the snow come down. As I talk to people about the weather, we are all wondering if it will end soon, and spring will finally come. Later this afternoon my snowblower will have to come out to clear the driveway, hopefully for the last time. Think spring. There’s plenty going on around Carlton these days, including: Lions Burger Night, 5-7 p.m. Friday, March 17, Carlton VFW. Book Sale, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 16 and 17 at Community Memorial Hospital, 5...
As I write my column, the sun is shining and the temperature is not below zero. My outdoor Christmas decorations are still buried in the snow and ice, waiting to be rescued and put away until the next holiday season. I am hopeful for the spring that is soon to come. As the days stay light longer, I look forward to seeing the green grass, trees budding and flowers begin to bloom. On that subject, make a note: Daylight Saving Time begins March 12. Here’s a list of upcoming meetings and events i...
The 29th annual Carlton area toy drive runs through Dec. 10. Please help those less fortunate. Collection boxes will be available at the Carlton VFW, City of Carlton office, Carlton Wellness Center, Thrivent Financial-Carlton, Carlton Meat & Grocery, CreativEdge, South Terrace Elementary School and Inter-Faith during regular business hours. Please donate a new unwrapped toy or gift card for children ages 17 and under. Monetary donations can also be made to the Carlton VFW Auxiliary. Hats, mitten...
The Carlton VFW 2962 Auxiliary’s rummage sale was a big success thanks to the 125 individuals and families who donated items for the sale. Thank you to the 47 community members and CIP crew who worked several days setting out items for the sale. The proceeds of $11,775.08 will be divided between the post and the auxiliary to help benefit veterans and their families in the area. Circle the dates for next year: Sept. 8-9, 2023. There are plenty more upcoming events: • Suicide awareness mem...
If you are a parent, grandparent or great-grandparent, you know that school will be starting on Tuesday, Sept. 6. We are excited for our kids, and remember how we felt on that first day of grade school or junior high way back when. The Carlton community has a long history of having a school within the city. The citizens of the Village of Carlton petitioned for a school on Sept. 18, 1871, and became District No. 2. A small wooden structure was built and one teacher, Miss Flora Lafan, was hired....
With the annual Carlton Daze celebration just around the corner, I am dedicating this column to all the ways we celebrate our city. Over the years, how many unique community celebrations has Carlton had? I checked at the Carlton County Historical Society to find out. I didn’t find an exact number but saw there have been several celebrations over the years, including a street fair that started in 1914 and a cabbage festival held in late fall. At one time there was a July Fourth at Carlton, beginn...
Although the July Fourth celebrations have passed, many of us put out the American flag every day, weather permitting. The earliest version of the flag flew in 1776, but it wasn’t until 1777 that the Continental Congress passed the Flag Act, which unified the U.S. under a banner of 13 alternating red and white stripes: one for each of the 13 colonies and 13 stars to represent each state. There is also a color code for the flag. Each color represents an American ideal — red for valor, white for...
Spring has finally arrived. The sun has been shining, the temperature has been decent and I have finally been able to get my Christmas yard decorations put away. The plants in my flower beds are starting to peek through the soil, reaching for the warmth of the sunshine. It is time to start checking out The Greenhouse, our local greenhouse located right here in Carlton. Happy planting! The Carlton community cleanup will be held Thursday, May 19, starting at 8:30 a.m. Carlton High School students...
As we all know, March 17 is St. Patrick’s Day. It is the Irish celebration of the day St. Patrick is said to have cast out the snakes from Ireland. But there is also another celebration the day before, St. Urho’s Day, on March 16. The Urho legend includes the story of St. Urho casting out the frogs by the power of his voice, which he got by drinking feelia sour (sour whole milk) and eating kala mojakka (fish soup). Happy St. Patrick’s Day and Happy St. Urho’s Day to all! Kindergarten roundup...