A weekend program at Lost Island Prairie Wetland Nature Center will feature "Terrific Trees" at 10 a.m. today. Learn about Iowa trees as we hike through the forested trails near the nature center. Prints of leaves belonging to Iowa natives will be made using the technique of Cherokee leaf printing.

* For more information on this program, visit www.paccb.org.

Ruthven yard/bake sale

Beginning at 7 a.m. today, the Ruthven United Methodist men are having their Fifth Annual Yard Sale at the church on Rolling Street in conjunction with Bully Bull Head Weekend. Proceeds go toward an annual Community Betterment Project.

In addition, the Methodist women will be holding a bake sale serving homemade cinnamon rolls and coffee in the Fellowship Hall from 7-10 p.m. One block east of the church at the Community Center, you can relax in air-conditioned comfort while you enjoy a piece of your favorite homemade pie from 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Ice cream, iced tea and coffee will also be available. Proceeds go toward mission projects.

VFW pancake breakfast

The VFW will be hosting a pancake breakfast from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 13. A free-will offering will be accepted. Pancakes, eggs, sausages and drinks will be served.

Democrats to meet

The Clay County Democrats will meet at 7:30 p.m. Monday at 419 East Second Street. Anyone interested in helping elect Democrat candidates is welcome to attend.

IPTV Summer Reading Road Trip

Dan Wardell, host of IPTV Kids Clubhouse, will read an original story from 9-10 a.m. Monday, July 14 at Spencer Public Library, 21 E. Third St. and kids will receive water bottles as a souvenir as part of IPTV's second annual Summer Reading Road Trip. This stop is one of 60 that will be made over the summer as part of the "Catch the Reading Bug" theme.

Bike ride this Tuesday

A newly-formed bike club, called Spencer Pedal Power, would like to invite any bicyclist to its weekly Tuesday night bike ride. Plan to arrive at the Spencer Middle School parking lot at 6:30 p.m. to leave on a 6:45 p.m. ride. All bikers in and around Spencer are welcome to participate.

Iowa Lakes Genealogy Society to meet

The Iowa Lakes Genealogy Society will meet at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, July 19 at the Higgins Museum for a sack lunch and then our meeting and a tour of the facilities. We will then go to the Gardner Cabin in Arnolds Park. To carpool from Spencer, be at the parking lot south of the library before noon.

'Invasive Species' talk

The Lost Island Prairie Wetland Nature Center program "Invasive Species" will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, July 14. Ecologist Laura Jackson from the University of Northern Iowa will explain what invasive plants and animals are and how we can help prevent them from taking control of Iowa's native habitats. Refreshments will be served.

Prairie Lakes field trip

All are welcome to attend the Prairie Lakes Audubon Chapter field trip at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 15 at the Lost Island Nature Center located three miles north of Ruthven in Huston County Park. A "bring your own sack lunch" picnic will be followed by a tour and nature hike presented by Naturalist Miriam Patten. Carpoolers meet at the east end of the Great Lakes Mall parking lot in Spirit Lake at 5:45 p.m.

Eric Taylor at Shaky Tree

Shaky Tree Coffee will be hosting Eric Taylor Wednesday, July 16. This sage musician is also a lyrical genius and master of the guitar. If you're not familiar with Taylor by name, you've probably heard his songs performed by people such as Nanci Griffith and Lyle Lovett. If you missed him the first time he was in Spencer, now is your chance. His show begins at 7:30 p.m. There is a cover charge.

Okoboji Women's Connection

Join the fun as Okoboji Women's Connection has a "Bargain Basement Babes" luncheon at the Inn at Okoboji at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 16. Following a style show of found bargains, Ilene Dirks will tell how she selected life in her talk, "From Lonely Only to Life." Each woman will receive play money to spend on clothes for the style show and a bargain centerpiece will be given away at each table. All reservations will be honored. Cancellations must be in by Sunday evening, July 13 at (712) 338-4318.

* For reservations, call Kay at 262-8911 or Darlene at 262-2769.

Clay County Toy Show

The Clay County Toy Show will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, July 19 and from 12-5 p.m. Sunday, July 20 at the Southpark Mall. Collectors and toy fans will enjoy the variety of collectibles, farm toys, toy trucks, NASCAR, Coke products and much more memorabilia on display to buy, sell or trade.

Willie Nelson to play Arnolds Park

Willie Nelson and family will be performing on Saturday, July 19 at Preservation Plaza in the Park at Arnolds Park. The show starts at 7:30 p.m., with gates opening at 6 p.m. Tickets are available at www.arnoldspark.com, the Arnolds Park Amusement Park ticket booth and all Ticketmaster locations.