FOOD & DRINK

Fare For All, a local food program created to make fresh fruits and vegetables more affordable for local families will be selling holiday packs for $35 at the Bethel Lutheran Church in Little Falls, Monday, Dec. 4, from 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Each holiday pack includes a 7- to 11-pound ham; 1.25 pounds chicken drumsticks; 1 pound ground beef; 1 pound pork breakfast sausage; 1 pound pork maple breakfast links; 10 ounces corn; 8-inch Dutch apple pie. ...

Crane Meadows National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and the Friends of Crane Meadows invite residents to build a bird feeder to take home with them. All are invited to the Backyard Bird Feeder Event Saturday, Dec. 2, from 9 a.m. – noon. All materials and instructions to build the bird feeders are provided for free, though participants can make a donation to the Friends of Crane Meadows to continue to support this type of programming. The Backyard Bird Feeder event is held at the Sedge Meadow Classroom at Crane Meadows NWR, located at 19502 Iris Road in Little Falls. ...

Ruby’s Pantry food distribution will be held Monday, Nov. 27, at 15615 Hwy. 27, Little Falls, from 4:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. Guests are asked to stage their cars in the waiting line in the Fleet store’s parking lot next door. The cost is $25 cash per share. To reserve a share and pay online go to www.rubys pantry.org. A reminder that, because of Christmas, next month’s distribution will be held Thursday, Dec. 28.

The Lake Wobegon Trail beckons nature lovers and nostalgia seekers alike, drawing them into the heartland of Minnesota. Stretching 65 miles, this scenic path serves as a gateway from Holdingford to the beloved, fictional town of Lake Wobegon, conceived by humorist Garrison Keillor. It's a trail that not only connects landscapes but also weaves the collective imagination of America with its real-world charm. Once an abandoned railway, the trail has been reborn as a picturesque junction between rural serenity and cultural heritage, inviting adventurers to explore the Midwest's splendor.

Because of overwhelming community support, the Friends of the Little Falls Carnegie Library will again host a holiday used book sale at the library, Wednesday – Saturday, Dec. 6 – 9. Thousands of books in all genres, for all ages, as well as jigsaw puzzles, DVDs, CDs and other media, will be available. A pre-sale begins Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 6, at 4:30 p.m. for Friends of the Library members. People...

Tucked away in Morrison County lies a natural sanctuary known as Lake Alexander Woods Scientific and Natural Area (SNA). Spanning 350 acres, this hidden gem was established on August 22, 1996, showcasing a 'kettle and knob' topography left by the Rainy glacial lobe. The landscape is a testament to Minnesota's natural heritage, with mature forests and wetlands serving as a backdrop for a rich array of wildlife and plant species.

The Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce’s Lunch on Location will be hosted by Ciao Thyme Wednesday, Nov. 29, from noon –1:30 p.m., at 115 First St. SE, Little Falls,. All are welcome to join in for this noon-time networking event. The group will learn more about the sponsor, pass the mic for introductions and build business and personal connections. There is a $10 fee to attend, to cover the cost of lunch. RSVP by Monday, Nov. 27. Visit the Chamber website to register: https://www.littlefallsmnchamber.com/events/calendar.

Once again, Project Bookshelf is collecting new and like new books for children of all ages. Last year, the Friends of the Little Falls Carnegie Library program brightened the holidays of more than 300 children in Morrison County, with a new book. Donation boxes will be at Baby’s on Broadway, the gift shop and cafeteria at St. Gabriel’s Hospital and the Little Falls Carnegie Library, through Dec. 12. Books for teenagers are especially welcome. Monetary donations can be mailed or taken to the library (Project Bookshelf, 108 Third St. N., Little Falls, MN 56345). Funds will be used to purchase additional books. Members of the Friends group will distribute the donated books, along with dozens of winter caps donated by Carole Otremba, during the Holiday Gift Giving Program, Dec. 16, at the Lions/Green Building.

Archery hunters who participated in the Camp Ripley Hunt near Little Falls had good success during the three-day hunt that took place Oct. 27-29. This year, 1,846 participating hunters harvested 202 deer across the three-day hunt, including two bucks that tipped the scales at or above 240 pounds. Last year, 1,953 hunters harvested 221 deer during the hunt.

At the last Upsala City Council meeting, Monday, Nov. 6, Allen Johnson presented his vision of establishing a sports bar at what was formerly known as “Cynthia’s Kitchen and Cocktails.” However, as Johnson has not secured financing and no contracts have been signed, the restaurant remains for sale, said Upsala Mayor Rollie Johnson. The 0.18-acre commercial property is listed with Schultz Auctioneers Landmark Realty in Upsala. Built in 2011, the listing reports the building features “attractive dining and lounge spaces with beautiful tile floors (and)...