Arts briefs: Washington County libraries spotlight 'Moo!' this month

The work for kids that won last year's Minnesota Book Award in Children's Literature is being featured in Washington County libraries in March.

It's part of a statewide one-book program for prekindergarten children.

A number of events will center on the book "Moo!," written by David LaRochelle and illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka, both Minnesotans.

The book follows the adventures of Cow after she decides to go on a wild ride.

The writer and illustrator will travel the county sharing a puppet show retelling of "Moo!," plus dancing, group storytelling and drawing.

The show is aimed at families and groups with children ages 6 and under. No registration is required.

Times and places: 2 p.m. March 15 at Hardwood Creek Library (Forest Lake); 10:30 a.m. March 21 at R.H. Stafford Library (Woodbury); and 3 p.m. March 21 at Park Grove Library (Cottage Grove).

• "Moo!" Storywalk: Follow the pages of the book around the library during open hours at Park Grove March 8-14, Hardwood Creek March 15-21, and R.H. Stafford March 24-31.

• Milk and Cookies Storytime: Every family will go home with a free copy of the book. Times and places: 10:30 a.m. Monday, March, 2; Tuesday, March 3; and Thursday, March 5, at R.H. Stafford Library; 10 a.m. Monday, March 2, at Oakdale Library; 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 3, and March 11, at Hardwood Creek; 10:30 a.m. March 10, at Park Grove Library; 10:30 a.m. March 9, at Valley Library; and 10:30 a.m. March 9, at Wildwood Library.

• "Moo!" Scavenger Hunt: Help Cow find her friends in a special library scavenger hunt throughout March at Hardwood Creek, Oakdale, Park Grove, R.H. Stafford, and Wildwood libraries. The program will also be at Valley Library 11 a.m. March 30.

Once Upon a Reader is sponsored by the Council of Regional Public Library System Administrators and funded by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the Clean Water Land and Legacy Amendment. For more on the program, visit www.onceuponareader.org.

Dave Durenberger, who represented Minnesota in the U.S. Senate from 1978 to 1995, will speak on our health care system this month as part of the Conversations of the Valley lecture series.

He retired from the school last May and will "reflect on more than 40 years of efforts to change the U.S. health care system, and the policy and politics of government's role in change," organizers say.

The program is March 17 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Grand Banquet Center, 301 South 2nd St., Stillwater. Lunch and program are $17 and must be paid in advance.

To make a reservation, call 651-430-3830 or visit www.scvfoundation.org/conversations-of-the-valley.

Organizers of a performing arts camp in Woodbury coming up this summer are urging parents to sign kids up now, as space is limited to 60 and the program sold out last year.

The Merrill Arts Center offers online registration and payment at http://merrillartscenter.org/

The camp runs weekdays July 6-17, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. There are live performances on July 17 and 18. There are five-minute auditions June 23 and 30.

The program is for kids who will be entering the sixth through 12th grades in the fall.

A fee of $210 covers two weeks of summer stock activities, three performances on the Loft Stage, music for an audition song, and a T-shirt.

Three exhibitions opened last week and are on view through April 4 at the Phipps Center for the Arts in Hudson, Wis.

• "Bio Scenic Travel Machines: From Place to Space" features mixed media sculpture by Sara Hanson, Minneapolis.

• The annual juried members exhibition of the Women's Art Resources of Minnesota (WARM) is on view at several galleries.

A public reception will be held on Friday, March 6, from 6:30-8:30 p.m., with artists present and hors d'oeuvres served.

Hours are Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Sunday noon to 4:30 p.m.

To get to the Phipps, take Hudson Exit 1 off I-94, Hwy 35 North, and turn west on Locust Street. For information, call 715-386-2305, ext. 103.