A "fun for the whole family" parade including bands and floats. Pre-registration requested for participants. Time: 5:30 pm Admission: Free.  http://www.visitgalena.org/illinois-events?eventID=745&mode=event Downtown Galena
Galena IL 61036  Local: 815-777-0467.

Great shopping bargains await you with the big spender sale on Wed. March 17th from 10am - 5pm.  Save 50% off items $10.00 or more.  All clothing in LaBotique will be half-priced also! Singing and music will be provided by Tom Otten for 1 - 2pm at the Community Clothesline located at 814 11th Ave. NE in Rochester just east of Silver Lake on buslines 2 & 16.  For more information call (507)282-8050 or email: office@communityclothesline.org.

Identity theft is a constant threat, and in an effort to help the public avoid this problem, H&R Block and Shred360 are partnering to provide a FREE Shred Day on March 19, 2010.  The Shred360 truck will be at H&R Blocks location at 831 NE Main St. in Simpsonville from 9am to noon, and at Blocks location at 103 E. Butler Rd. in Mauldin from 2pm to 5pm. Consumers are invited to bring confidential documents, files, and other sensitive information for on-site shredding and recycling. Shred360 requests consumers remove plastic, glass, trash or other non-paper contaminants prior to submitting their information for shredding. H&R Block tax professionals will be on hand to provide information and answer questions.

Knights of Columbus Annual Fish Bakes will be held every Friday from February 19th through March 26 at the St. John's School Gym, 424 W Center St, Rochster MN, Adults $8.00, Children (5-12) $4.00, 4&under free. See http://kofc1013.org/fishbake.html for menu, entertainment and benefiting organizations.

Cabin Fever Bean Bag Tournament, Saturday March 20th, at the Rochester Eagles Club.  Entry fee includes Guaranteed 3 games, Participant T-Shirt, Free Raffle ticket.  Raffle tickets are also available for purchase or in exchange for non-perishable food items (limit 5) to be donated to Channel One.  For more information email: cfbeanbag@gmail.com or call (507)250-0887. All proceeds to benefit Cancer Research.

Celebrate spring in Whitewater State Park's sugar bush!  On saturday mornings and afternoons March 13, 20, & 27 the park will be offering maple syrup making demonstration.  Each activity will introduce the long history of maple syrup and sugar making, as well as the equipment and procedures used.  Participants will tap trees, gather and boil sap and best of all taste pure maple syrup! State park vehicle permits are required.  Call Whitewater State Park at (507)932-3007 ext. 0 during weekday business hours for exact times, additional information and reservations.

Interested in making your own maple syrup? This seminar will cover everything you need to know fro bringing homemade syrup to your table.  Adults and youth over age 15 are able to join the fun.  An adult must accompany those under 18 years of age.  Reservations are required.  Cost $10 per person.  contact Megan at 1-888-800-9558 or camps@eagle-bluff.org to register or for more information.

This has grown to be one of the most popular presetations.  Join Oxbow Park staff on Sat. March 13th, 20th, & 27th at 1pm for a brief history of this wonderful craft and then prepare yourselves for a short hike to oxbow's very own sugar bush as we demonstrate how we tap our sugar maples.  the program doesn't end here though, when we are all done tapping head back to the nature center for a sample of oxbow parks very own maple syrup! dress for the weather and possible sloppy conditions.  Open to all ages.  In case of inclement weather call 775-2451 for program details.

Mankato's first Holistic & Wellness Expo, March 20th & 21st, Best Western Garden Inn.  Aura Photos, Psychic Readings, Art, Jewelry, Crystals, Stones, Herbs, Healing Energy, Music, Oils, Books & More! Tickets available at the door $7.00 1 day pass or $12.00 weekend pass.  For more info visit: matrixmediaexpo.com.

Sliders and Slaw at Ferndale Market, Cannon Falls, 1 to 3 p.m.  Enjoy complimentary turkey sliders (mini burgers) and cole slaw. Featherstone Farm will be on hand with information on their organic Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares that will be delivered to Ferndale Market, Cannon Falls, each week this summer. Free event Saturday March 20th, 1-3pm.

Rochester Woodcarvers 34th Annual Show. March 20-21, 2010 10:00am - 4:00pm each day Free admission Olmsted County Fairgrounds - 4H Building, 1508 Aune Drive SE, Rochester, MN 55904. Stop by the Rochester Woodcarvers show to see your friends, neighbors and maybe even your co-workers displaying their woodcarving creativity and skills. We are also planning to have some wood and tool suppliers at the show so you can stock up on your own needs!

The Rollingstone Jaycee's will hold a chicken Q on March 20th from 4pm - 7pm at Holy Trinity Community Center in Rollingstone Minnesota.  1/2 chicken, beans, cole slaw, bread.  $7.50 per ticket, take outs available.

A spaghetti benefit and silent auction will be held at the Owatonna American Legion from 4pm - 7pm for Madysen Vavra who at the age of 6 weeks became very ill on January 2, 2010.  Melissa Madysen's mom has been unable to work due to all of the doctors appointments and care required for Madysen. Tickets are $7.00 adults and $2.50 children under 5.  Donations can also be made to: Madysen Vavra Benefit Fund c/o Wells Fargo Bank, 1400 South Oak Ave. Owatonna MN 55060.  If you are interested in donating items for the silent auction contact Kim (507)676-1823 or Shelly (507)374-2301.

Mental Aerobics Wrestling Championship Invite held at the RCTC Regional Performance Arena. Wrestling begins at 9am on March 20th Wreslters from throughout MS, IA and Wisc. have been invited to participate in this highly competive tournament.  Proceeds go to wrestling families in need.  www.mentalaerobics.us

Free Christian Concert featuring:  Silverline, The Groundwork  and Oathkeeper with  speaker Beau Lee.  This event will be on Saturday, March 20th at the Fest building in Spring Grove Minnesota. Doors open at 6:30, show starts at 7:00.  -FREE Admission- FREE Food- FREE T-shirts- For  more information please visit www.whatconcert.com

Ascension Lutheran Church is having our annual Easter Egg Hunt on March 20 from 9:30 to 10:30 am. Parents are encouraged to stay for the hour of crafts, snacks, and finding eggs. For more information call the church at 288-2781 or visit us on web at www.ascensionrochester.org Ascension Lutheran Church is located at 2207 11th Ave. SE in Rochester.

Elgin Volunteer Ambulance is hosting a Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser to provide new equipment to serve our community.  Sunday March 21st, 2010 from: 8:00AM- 12:00 PM at the Elgin American Legion.  Serving All you can eat: Pancakes; Sausage: Scrambled eggs**Beverage included; Milk; orange juice and coffee.  Cost: $6.00 per person …$1.00 children 5 and under.

All You Can Eat Pancake Breakfast, Sunday, March 21, 2010, 9:00am – 1:00pm, Mower County Senior Center, 400 3rd Avenue NE, Austin.  Breakfast Includes: All You Can Eat Pancakes, Sausage, Juice, Milk, Coffee.  Tickets
Advance: $6.00 per adult and $4.00 per child (Ages 12 and Under).  At The Door: $7.00 per adult and $5.00 per child (Ages 12 and Under).  All proceeds from this fundraiser will benefit Arc Mower County’s Vacation Program for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities in Mower County.  To Order Tickets, Please Call 507-433-8994.

Pine Island High School FCCLA and Art SCREAM would like to invite the public to the seventh annual Empty Bowl event on Sunday, March 21, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Pine Island School Cafeteria.  You are invited to have a delicious meal of soup, bread, and desserts made with some of Pine Islands finest recipes.  Guests will be serenaded by local musicians, such as Pine Island High Schools own Jazz Strings.  Each guest may choose a handmade ceramic bowl to be served in, and then keep the bowl as a reminder that there are always empty bowls in the world.  In exchange for the meal and the bowl, the suggested minimum donation of $10 is asked.  Families may pay $15 for one clay bowl and receive soup for a family of four.  We will also be offering "Kids Pack" meals with small bowls for $5.  The tradition continues this year as school staff members make their famous recipes to compete in the PIHS Iron Soup Chef Competition.  Come enjoy and vote for your favorite soup recipe.  There will also be a Silent Art Auction to raise additional funds.  Handmade items such as textiles, preserves, ceramics, and framed photographs will be included in the auction.  The resulting money will be donated to an organization which fights hunger. The students have chosen to donate the proceeds to the Pine Island Food Shelf and the Pine Island Area Home Services since they are located within our own community.

ARE WE THERE YET? THE STORY OF MOSES AND THE EXODUS This intergenerational musical tells the story of the life of Moses and the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt.  The humanity of Moses, Miriam, Aaron and the others is captured in song, humor and drama, and we find they are a lot like us. The public is invited to attend performances of the musical at Hosanna Lutheran Church, 2815 57th St. NW at either 8:00 or 10:30am on Sunday, March 21, 2010. For more information e-mail secretary@hosannalutheran.orgor call 507-285-0092.