St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Hartley, is sponsoring a community-wide benefit for the family of Jan Hall to help defray medical bills incurred during Jan's battle with illness. The free-will dinner and auction will be held at the Hartley Community Center today. The Thrivent Financial for Lutherans will be providing matching funds for a portion of the donations. A dinner of roasted pork sandwiches, cheesy potatos, baked beans, pasta salaed, ice cream and bars will be served from 5-8 p.m. Carry outs will be available. A free-will offering bake sale of delicious goodies will be held during the dinner. At 7 p.m. a live-auction for a variety of donated items and services will begin, with Ron Sterk as the auctioneer. It's not too late to donate items or services for the auction.

* Please contact Rhonda Pippy at (712) 928-2816. Donations of baked goods for the bake sale table may be brought to the Community Center before 4:30 p.m. on the day of the event.

Music at Mainstreet Market

This week's live entertainment at Mainstreet Market will be provided by Jack Ryan and his Dixieland jazz band. They will perform from 6--8 p.m. tonight, in front of the courthouse. From 5--6 p.m. there will be an open mic for anyone who wants a chance to share their talent with the public or to prepare for the Mainstreet Market Talent Competition on August 21. Mainstreet Market takes place Thursdays from 5 to 8 p.m. at the courthouse square, 215 W. 4th St., Spencer. Along with live entertainment, it features produce, art, and food vendors, and is a joint venture of the Spencer Main Street Company and the Spencer Alliance for a Creative Economy (SPACE).

Spencer schools to close for three hours

Spencer Community Schools announces all offices and buildings throughout the district will be closed from 7:30-10:30 a.m. today so all staff can attend district in-services.

Republican Women celebrate 70 years

The Dickinson County Republican Women are celebrating "70" years today with an exciting event at the Inn on Okoboji. The Luncheon Party will begin at 12 p.m. with a Fashion Show by Billie of Fashion Formula. Diane Netsch will provide piano music. David Rowley will sing the National Anthem.

Prominent guests have been invited. Senator John McCain and his wife Cindy have been contacted and hopefully will come. State Senator David Johnson, Stat Representative Mike May, and all Republican County office holders will attend. Past Republican Women Presidents will be recognized. There will be birthday cakes and prizes. All area residents are invited to this historic event.

* For information and reservations call 336-1466.

Middle School YMCA Dance Party

The YMCA Summer Dance Party for students entering seventh and eighth grade will be held on the Spencer YMCA Tennis Courts with a live DJ from 8-10 p.m., Friday, Aug. 15. Refreshments will be for sale. Admissions is $3 for members and $5 for non-members. A dress code will be enforced. YMCA membership cards are required to receive discount. If there is severe weather, the dance will be held inside the YMCA.

Artist Reception at Arts on Grand

Arts on Grand will host a reception for artist Lee Rainboth from 5-6:30 p.m., Friday, August 15. "Deserving Existence," an exhibit of Rainboth's oil paintings inspired by his experiences in Africa and Haiti, opened Tuesday and will run through Sept. 15. Rainboth will talk about his work at 5:30 p.m.

Genealogy Society to meet

Iowa Lakes Genealogy Society will meet at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, Aug 16 in the Spencer Public Library. Ron Reisinger will present the program on their recent trip to Italy and Sicily.

New singles group

Spencer and surrounding towns forming a new singles group, 30 and above- singles, widow, divorced. Meeting at 1 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 16 at Pederson Park, 10th Ave. E. in the picnic area.

* For more information, call Tim, 260-0616 after 9 p.m.

Cancer Support Group

The NW Iowa Cancer Support Group will meet at 7 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 18 at the Hope Reformed Church in Spencer. They will be meeting at 7 p.m. instead of 6:30 p.m. this month only. They are discussing survivorship issues.

* If you have any questions, please contact Kristy Connor, LBSW at the Abben Cancer Center (712)264-6571.

Puzzle Writer to Appear at Lakeside Lab

Puzzle writer and speaker Terry Stickels will host a Puzzle Night at Iowa Lakeside Laboratory and Regents Resource Center at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 19. The public is invited to attend. Admission is free, but participants should call the Lab at 712-337-3669 ext. 5 to reserve a place.

Stickels has authored 26 books and writes the popular FRAME GAMES™ and Stickdoku™ puzzles that appear in 600 newspapers weekly. His MINDSTRETCH™ activities help both children and adults become better problem solvers through puzzles. Several of his books will be given away at his Lakeside appearance.

Stickels' presentations are fast-paced, humorous looks at the ability, and sometimes lack of ability, to think clearly. Using puzzles as mental warm-ups, he engages audiences in interactive fun as he guides them to discover the hidden power of their minds.