Arts briefs: Fatal bomber crash discussed in Denmark Township

A Dec. 16, 1942, crash of a World War II bomber plane in Denmark Township will be the focus of a program by the Denmark Township Historical Society at 7 p.m. Tuesday at St. Mary's Episcopal Church Guild Hall, 8435 St. Croix Trail S. (County road 21).

Lauren Cran, then a 5-year-old boy, watched a B-24 bomber as it circled overhead, then saw it go down in flames. Cran's younger brother Jim will describe the event during the program. Presented by members of the Denmark Township Historical Society, it is free and open to the public.

Cran, who was not yet born in 1942, interviewed residents of Denmark Township who remembered the event to prepare for his presentation. Lauren also will be part of the program.

Jim Cran said the B-24 military plane had left Holman Field in St. Paul, where it had been modified, and was heading for Memphis, Tenn., when it crashed in the vicinity of St. Croix Trail and 80th Street S., near what is Afton Alps today. "Three guys were flying the plane, and all were killed," Jim Cran said. "One was from Duluth, the others from out-of-state. Afterward representatives from the Air Force and Holman Field searched the wreckage for what was later determined to be a Norden Bombsite, an instrument that was an early analog computer used to zero in on bombing sites."

The Denmark Township Historical Society is finishing its drive to complete the purchase of the Valley School, built in 1852 and still on its original site at 13728 St. Croix Trail South. The one-room schoolhouse will be restored as a center for community activities. More information is available from Society President Wayne Boyd, 651-436-8031; weboydo@gmail.com. Donations to the SOS: Save Our School project can be sent to Treasurer Jean Boyd, 7575 Quadrant Avenue S., Hastings MN 55033.

"The English Major's Ball," a fundraiser to sustain ArtReach's literary arts programming, will begin at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 20 at Brine's 3rd Floor, 219 Main St. S., Stillwater.

The event will include live Music with Thrift Store Sonata, appetizers and cash bar, a Twitter haiku challenge, raffles and silent auction. Bring a dictionary donation for Books for Africa.

Foodies On Foot joins forces with Lift Bridge Brewery for a craft beer progressive dinner starting at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 25 in downtown Stillwater.

Participants will board the Stillwater Trolley at 100 E. Nelson Street for a historic tour ending at Lift Bridge for a meet-and-greet with owners and brewmasters who will give a guided tour of the brewing facilities. The trolley will return downtown where for a visit to four restaurants, where the chefs have chosen foods to pair with a specific Lift Bridge beer at each location.

Cost is $69 per person, and reservations are required. Learn more at: www.foodiesonfootmn.com/tours.

Visiting virtuoso Randall Harlow will debut his original organ transcriptions of the complete Transcendental Etudes by Franz Liszt on the historic 1927 Casavant-Schantz organ in a concert at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, April 15, at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church, 900 Stillwater Road, Mahtomedi.

Admission is free; donations will be accepted at the door.

More information is available at www.saintandrews.org or by calling 651-426-3261.

Planning is underway for Cottage Grove's Strawberry Fest, and girls aged 9 to 20 who are interested in the 2013 Royalty Ambassador Program can learn more at a community meeting at 6 p.m. April 24 at Cottage Grove City Hall, 12800 Ravine Parkway.

Candidate applications are being accepted for the program, and girls must live in Independent School District 833. Ambassadors are chosen after their candidacy, which includes interviews, community service events, volunteering and a variety of scheduled events during the Cottage Grove Strawberry Fest.

Email questions to: ambassadors@cottagegrovestrawberryfest.com.

An introduction to the fast-growing hobby of geocaching will be offered at 10:30 a.m. April 27 at William O'Brien State Park, 16821 O'Brien Trail N., Marine on St. Croix.

"Once Upon a River: Celebrating the St. Croix River in Stories & Song," a program hosted by Dan Chouinard and featuring the Festival Singers, will celebrate Earth Day starting at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday at the St. Croix Festival Theatre, 210 N. Washington St., St. Croix Falls, Wis.

Chouinard will bring along a few friends for music and stories celebrating the St. Croix River.

Tickets are $21 in advance, $26 at the door. For more information, call 715-483-3387.