Litchfield Community Education has some trips planned this spring, some of which will be of interest to theater buffs. Community Education will also have tickets on sale soon for the Litchfield Community Theatre production of “Almost Maine.”
Litchfield Community Education Director Grant Solem says “Almost Maine” will be performed over the Valentine’s Day weekend at the Bernie Aaker Auditorium. He says Community Education has trips planned to “Dancing Through the Decades with the Divas” on March 4th at the Paramount Theater in St. Cloud, and to “37 Postcards” in the Twin Cities on April 25th.
Solem says there are classes for youth this winter including babysitting and home alone classes on February 17th, and technical academy classes online. He says adults who are maybe hoping to get fit in the New Year could benefit from the Fit for Life class.
Solem says the ECFE winter ball is coming up on February 7th at the Wagner Education Building. He says you can find more information about any of the activities on the Community Education link on the Litchfield School District website, stop in at the Community Education office in the Wagner Building or call 693-2354.
Scott Van Binsbergen officially is a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives after taking the oath of office Tuesday at the Capitol to become a member of the 94th Legislature.
Van Binsbergen, a Republican from Montevideo, was elected to the House in November and fills the District 16A seat former Rep. Dean Urdahl vacated upon retirement.
The district includes nearly all of Chippewa County, all of Renville County, southeast Kandiyohi County and western Meeker County. Van Binsbergen says it’s great to be at the Capitol, getting down to business and concentrating on the issues that are most important to the people he represents. He says that is the approach he’s taking, and it will help keep him centered on our priorities. Scott says performing the oath of office is a humbling experience he’ll always remember and it’s an honor to serve the people of District 16A. He says we need to hit the ground running this session because there is a lot of work to do and no time to waste.
Van Binsbergen has been selected to serve two House committees for the new biennium, related to commerce and health. On a broader scale, he said House Republicans recently shared a list of their statewide priorities for the 2025 legislative session. They include: Stop the Fraud, Make Minnesota Affordable, Make Minnesota Safe, Raise Standards, Reduce Mandates, Minnesota Tax Dollars for Minnesotans, and Build for the Future.
Van Binsbergen is a local business owner with extensive experience in economic development, real estate, insurance, agriculture, banking, and healthcare. He and his wife, Clarissa, have been married 28 years and have three children. District 16A residents can call his legislative office at (651) 296-4344 or email rep.scott.vanbinsbergen@house.mn.gov.
Students at St. Philip’s Catholic School in Litchfield had a special blessing last week as they celebrated the Feast of the Epiphany. The students are getting ready for Catholic Schools Week at the end of the month.
5th grader Logan says the special week will get started with a Spaghetti Dinner on Saturday, January 25th from 4:30-to-6:30 p.m. at the St. Philip’s Church Social Hall. He says Monday, January 27th will be pajama day and they will work on a birthday bag service project where they put together bags with items needed for a birthday party and donate them to the Meeker Area Food Shelf.
Logan says Thursday, January 30th, is jersey day and engineering day in which they will go to different rooms to make things. 5th grader Killian says they are especially looking forward to Tuesday, January 28th which is field trip day when the younger children will go roller skating and the older students will play laser tag.
Killian says Friday, January 31st is dress up day and all school bingo. 5th grader Emma says Wednesday, January 29th is the day when they can dress as their favorite character from a book or movie.
Emma says January 31st is also the day called mini courses day in which they will learn about new hobbies or games, so if anyone wants to share, they can call the school to sign up. Principal Andrea Dietrich says Catholic Schools Week will end with the Believe It Achieve It fundraising benefit with entertainment by the Dueling Guitars, dinner and a live auction on February 1st at the Litchfield Eagles Club.
Mrs. Dietrich says tickets for Believe It Achieve It are available at St. Philip’s School or at the Church of St. Philip in Litchfield.