The second annual ISD 166 Communication Meeting will be held at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts on Tuesday, May 28, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. Small group discussions will be held for suggestions and solutions to school-related topics. All are invited to join the discussion to provide feedback on how ISD 166 is doing and how it can better serve students, families, and the community.

The U of M Master Gardeners will host "Art in the Garden" at the Cook County Community Center on Saturday, June 1. Morning activities include "Garden Yoga," "Garden Art for the Heart & Soul," and "Landscape Art." In the afternoon, participants can choose one of four "make and take" garden art projects, including hypertufa, stained glass, mosaic flower pot, or metal garden art. Registration is requested by May 24, to Diane at the CC Extension Office, 387-3015.

The Cook County Recycling Center in Grand Marais is holding a household hazardous waste collection event on Saturday, June 1, from 9 AM to 1 PM. Household hazardous waste can be disposed of safely, and people can pick up usable products, free of charge. Acceptable wastes include, but are not limited to, paints, stains, thinners and solvents, acids and bases, home and garden pesticides, aerosols, button and rechargeable batteries, automotive productsm adhesives, fluorescent tubes, and PCB ballasts. Types of wastes not acceptable include business waste, tires, empty containers, alkaline batteries, compressed gas, explosives, and radioactive material. More information is available from the Cook County Solid Waste office at 387-3630.

Birch Grove Community School in Tofte will offer two summer programs for kids -- Summer Saplings for 3-5 year olds, and Campsite Kids for K-5th graders (must have completed kindergarten). Both programs run from 8 AM to 3:30 PM Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, from June 11 through August 29, except for July 4. Summer Saplings will provide qualified care, creative projects, outdoor play, library access, and bonfire lunches. Campsite Kids will offer weekly nature and camping themes, outdoor activities, field trips, creative activities, an optional overnight at a Lamb's Resort cabin, library access and bonfire lunches with the younger kids. Space in these programs is limited. More information and registration are available from Diane Blanchette, 663-0170 or birchgrove@boreal.org.

Eric Thomas died on Wednesday, May 15, in Washington D.C. A Memorial Gathering will be held at the Stone's Throw Room, East Bay Suites, on Saturday, June 15, from 1 to 4 PM. All are invited. No invitations will be sent. An Obituary will appear this week in the Cook County News Herald.

Birch Grove Community Center in Tofte will offer a class in "Beginner Tai Chi Chih," with accredited instructor Ginger Weisser, on Tuesdays, June 18-July 23, from 9:45 to 11:15 AM. The class will be outdoors when possible. Scholarships are available for seniors. For more information and to register, contact Patty at 663-7977 or bgf@boreal.org.

Following are regular meetings of AA and Al-Anon around Cook County:
 
Mondays: Open Meeting, 7 PM, Senior Center, Grand Marais. First Monday of the month a speaker meeting at 7 PM.  Al-Anon, 7 PM , First Congregational Church, Grand Marais.

Tuesdays: Big Book Study Group Open Meeting, 6 PM, First Congregational Church, Grand Marais.

Wednesdays: Open Meeting, 7:00 PM, Windigo Lodge, Villa 2.  Al-Anon Family Support group meeting, 7:00 PM Lutsen Town Hall.

Thursdays: Women's Meeting, Noon, First Congregational Church, Grand Marais. Big Book Study Groups, 7 PM, Senior Center, Grand Marais, and, 7:30 PM, Room 232, Grand Portage Lodge, Grand Portage.

Fridays: Big Book Study Group, Open Meeting, 7 AM, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Grand Marais. "As Bill Sees It" Discussion Group, Open Meeting, 7:30 PM, First Congregational Church, Grand Marais.

Saturdays: Open Meeting, 7 PM, Trinity Lutheran Church, Hovland.

Sundays: Lutsen Big Book Study Group, 6:30 PM, Lutsen Town Hall.

Everyone is invited to play Nintendo Wii at the Grand Marais Senior Center on Mondays and Thursdays from noon until 4 PM. No experience is necessary. The game was earned by Cook County third graders and donated to the Senior Center. Call the center at 387-2660 for more information.

Separated or divorced parents who need a safe place to exchange children between them may contact the North Shore Visitation Center. The center offers a safe child exchange site in Grand Marais twice each week. More information is available at 370-1677 or 387-2522.

The Sawtooth Mountain Clinic and Cook County Department of Public Health and Human Services offer a foot care clinic at the Senior Center in downtown Grand Marais on the third Tuesday of each month. The clinic is held from 9 to 11 AM on a first-come, first-served basis. People seeking foot care are asked to bring their own soap, towel and bucket for soaking their feet. More information is available from Sawtooth Mountain Clinic at 387-2330.