Tom Morgan, part of a group hoping to establish a personal relationship between Duluth and Rania, Iraq, reported by phone Tuesday that he and his five companions have arrived at their destination. Calling at 11 p.m. Rania time, Morgan said the Duluth travelers had been greeted warmly and graciously by government officials and residents.
Their arrival was a "huge media event," Morgan said, covered by representatives from print media and at least four TV stations. His first impression? "People are thrilled."
Morgan, associate professor of Russian and director of the Alworth Center for Peace and Justice at the College of St. Scholastica, is accompanied by Brooks Anderson, a retired Lutheran pastor; Marv Heikkinen, a retired high school teacher; Donna Howard, chairwoman of the International Governance Council of Nonviolent Peaceforce; Arno Kahn, general manager of Builders' Commonwealth; and Salima Swenson, a mental health worker.
To read more about the Duluth-to-Rania trip, go to duluthnewstribune.com, and look for updates through the week in the Duluth News Tribune.
Get a free bike helmet
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Bring your kids to the Kohl's parking lot in the Miller Hill Mall from 4-7 p.m. Thursday to get a free bike helmet, courtesy of Ski Hut. The event, sponsored by SMDC and Kohl's, will have Ski Hut personnel on hand to measure children's heads to ensure proper fit. But it's first come, first served.
Citizens Federation: We're not closing
A story in the Minneapolis Star Tribune has members of the Minnesota Citizens Federation worried that the organization is closing. But don't worry, said Citizens Federation Director Buddy Robinson. It's not.
The Star Tribune reported that the nonprofit Minnesota Senior Federation has run out of money and will be closing its doors. The Duluth Citizens Federation left that group five years ago and changed its name, but "people still mix us up," Robinson said.
"Our 1,500 Citizens Fed members, including our Senior Partners Care enrollees, can rest assured that nothing is happening to?endanger our organization," said Marlene Hart, Citizens Federation president. "Our organization and programs are financially stable and fully operational."
Raise the Big Top
Big Top Chautauqua's annual tent-raising event needs volunteers on Saturday before it can start its 24th season.
Help is needed starting at 7 a.m. and going until about 4-5 p.m. For more information, contact Phil Anich at (715) 373-5552 or pranich@bigtop.org .
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Banding together
The Jedlicka Middle School Bands and the Proctor Community Band will present their eighth biennial Memorial Day Concert on Thursday, May 28. The program pays tribute to all U.S. military members who have died. The show will begin at 7 p.m. in the Proctor school auditorium.
