■ An American Red Cross Bloodmobile planned to be at the St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Kimball from 1 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17. Most healthy people 17 or older who weigh 110 pounds or more can give blood. Call 1-800-RED-CROSS to make an appointment. Walk-ins are welcome.
■ The Annandale Health and Wellness Center is offering a seven-week Stepping On workshop beginning Tuesday, Jan. 17, from 2 to 4 p.m and ending Tuesday, Feb. 28. Stepping On is a falls prevention program that restores confidence in older people who may be at risk for a fall or have been shaken after a fall injury.
■ The Monticello Cancer Center will host ‘Look Good, Feel Better’ on Wednesday, Jan. 18, from 5 to 7 p.m. It’s a free program designed to help women who are experiencing the side effects of cancer treatment, such as dry skin and hair loss, learn beauty techniques to help enhance their appearance and self-image during chemotherapy and radiation treatments. There is no cost to attend. Registration is required. For more information, or to register, call 1-800-227-2345.
■ The Butch Thompson Jazz Trio will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, at the Dassel-Cokato Performing Arts Center. The Dassel-Cokato High School Jazz Band will play before the concert, at 7 p.m.
■ The next Fare For All food distribution will be from 10:30 a.m. until noon on Saturday, Jan. 21, at Annandale City Hall. Volunteers may help from 9 a.m. to noon. Fare For All is a monthly program that provides groceries to anyone for a reduced price. For more information contact Sandy Holthaus at 236-5604.
■ A benefit will be held for Dennis Noggle at the Pizza Ranch in Waite Park on Sunday, Jan. 22, from 5 p.m to 8 p.m. Noggle has been battling leukemia since October 2006. Come in or take out and part of your bill will be donated for medical and living expenses.
■ A Rib Fest dinner will be held to benefit the Annandale High School Scholarship Fund at Southbrook Golf Course on Saturday, Jan. 28, from 4 to 8 p.m. Tickets are available at Southbrook, during home basketball games at the concession stand, and through the Cardinal Athletic Foundation.
■ Monday, Jan. 23, is the end of the second quarter in the Annandale School District. There is a teacher workshop, and there are no classes.
■ Annandale High School’s One Act Play Festival will take place Friday, Jan. 27, at the AHS Performing Arts Center. See the article in this Advocate.
■ Lake Maria State Park will hold its annual Winter Fun Day on Saturday, Jan. 28, starting at 10 a.m. There will be a guided snowshoe hike, dog sled and winter camping demonstrations, ice skating, music, snacks and more. See the article in this issue.
■ The Delano Council 4653 Knights of Columbus and the St. Mary’s of Czestochowa’s Mens Club will hold a pancake, sausage and french toast breakfast Sunday, Jan. 29, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at St. Mary of Czestochowa. The proceeds will go to the Delano and Watertown area food shelves.
■ The 36th annual Championship and Household Pet Cat Show will be Saturday, Jan. 28, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Jan. 29, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the RiverCentre complex, in the Roy Wilkins Exhibition Hall (lower level), in downtown St. Paul. More than 200 cats from the United States and Canada will compete.
■ Thursday, Feb. 2, is Ground Hog Day.
■ The Marketplace, Annandale, will host registered dietician Julie Starke, Thursday, Feb. 2, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. for an interactive grocery store tour designed to introduce the basics of making healthier choices. Learn how to read nutrition fact panels, ingredient lists and label icons. Call 763-684-7025 to register.
■ Maple Lake’s 3rd annual Arctic Plunge Costume Contest will be held Saturday, Feb. 4, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Maple Lake. For more information or to sign up, call Shannon Veches at 763-286-9945 or see the ad on 7A.
■ The 24th annual Kingston Lions Fishing Contest will be held Saturday, Feb. 4, from 1 to 3 p.m. on the northwest side of Lake Francis. Concessions will be provided by the Kingston Lions Club.
■ A preschool open house for the 2012-13 school year will be held Thursday, Feb. 9, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., at the Annandale Community Education Center.
■ The 29th annual South Haven Sportsman’s Club Fishing Contest will be held Saturday, Feb. 11, from 12:30 to 3 p.m. at the Lake Francis Public Beach. Proceeds will go to local conservation projects, prizes will be awarded.
■ Lake Maria State Park, Minnesota Wolkssport Association and the Friends of Lake Maria will hold a Valentine’s Day Candlelight Snowshoe-Walk Saturday, Feb. 11, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the park. A limited number of snowshoes will be available. Call the park at 763-878-2325 for more information.
■ The Annandale All-Night Graduation Party organization will meet at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13, at Annandale City Hall. Help provide a memorable, safe and worry-free night for Annandale High School seniors on graduation night. Open to parents of high school students. The group meets the second Monday of the month. Contact Laurie Knudson, senior chair, at 612-308-8749 or laurie.knudson@gmail.com.
■ Tuesday, Feb. 14, is Valentine’s Day.
■ Monday, Feb. 20, is Presidents Day. There is no school in the Annandale district and some government agencies and businesses are closed. List your community event in this Update. Fax it to 274-2301 or e-mail it to news@annandaleadvocate.com.