The Siouxland Community Blood Bank will be at Grace United Methodist Church in Spencer today from 3-6 p.m.

American Legion Bingo resumes

American Legion Bingo in Sioux Rapids will resume Sept. 17.

Okoboji Women's Connection

Okoboji Women's Connection, a division of Stonecroft Ministries, will have a luncheon at the Inn at Okoboji at 12:30 p.m., Sept. 17. Cost for the event is $10. Featured speaker is Dee Fero of Tonka Bay, Minn. An author of four books, who has lived in the British West Indies, published monthly devotionals and went back to work after flunking retirement.

* For reservations, call: Kay 262-8911 and Darlene 262-2769.

Dewey author to sign, speak at library

Spencer Public Library will host a book signing by Vicki Myron, author of "Dewey: The Small-town Library Cat Who Touched the World" on Thursday, Sept. 18 at the library. Vicki will speak at 7 p.m. and will sell and sign copies of her book afterward. Friends of the Library will provide refreshments and give away a copy of the book.

The Starlings to play ShakyTree

The Starlings duo will be live on stage at Shaky Tree Coffee Sept. 20 at 8 p.m. The music is described as "rootsy with simple beauty."

Genealogy Society to meet

The Iowa Lakes Genealogy Society will meet at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 20 at the Spencer Public Library, The road trip to Pipestone is postponed until 2009. Ron Reisinger will have a program: "How To Begin Tracing Your Family Tree."

Farmers Market held every

Wednesday and Saturday

The Spencer Area Farmers Market will be held every Wednesday and Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to noon in the Southpark Mall parking lot. Come see the homegrown, fresh produce for sale.

Many Voices Choir to begin practice

Many Voices Choir will begin practices for the Christmas concerts at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 22 at the Iowa Lakes Community College music room. All other Monday practices will begin at 7 p.m. Bring a snack to share with others, for the party after practice. If you have a particular beverage you drink, bring it too, please.

The choir welcomes everyone that loves to sing. Do return, if you have sung with the choir in the past.

YMCA taking infant pre-registration

As of January 2009, the Spencer Family YMCA will have a facility to offer quality licensed childcare to infants six weeks and older. Pre-registration for the childcare is beginning Sept. 30. You do not have to be a member of the YMCA to register your child. Registration and deposit must be in by Oct. 1 to be included in the lottery system. The drawing will be held on Oct. 6, you do not have to be present. Registrations can be picked up at the YMCA or downloaded online at www.spencerymca.org. The YMCA is excited about the greater capacity to service Spencer area families.

Property taxes due Sept. 30

Clay County Treasurer, Sande Geidl, would like to remind property owners that the first installment of property taxes is due Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2008. Property tax information may be obtained online at www.iowatreasurers.org or by calling the Treasurer's Office at (712)262-2179. To avoid penalty on the first installment, payment must be received in the Treasurer's Office or postmarked by Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2008.

Payments may also be posted online by E-check for less than the cost of a postage stamp! Just $.40 per transaction at www.iowatreasurers.org. Credit card payments are also accepted online. There is a non-refundable Service Delivery Fee to pay by credit card. When paying online by credit card, you will have the opportunity to review the total charge and exit the system prior to completing the transaction.

All citizens of Clay County are invited to visit the website www.iowatreasurers.org. This site allows you to do business with your County Treasurer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Resources available on the site include vehicle registration renewals; property tax, motor vehicle and driver's license forms; answers to frequently asked questions (F.A.Q's); and important dates and information for conducting business with your County Treasurer.

'Freedom from Smoking' sessions

Spencer Hospital is offering the "Freedom from Smoking" course, an eight-session, tobacco-cessation program which has been proven effective by the American Lung Associaton. The next course begins Sept. 18 and will be held from 6:30 - 8 p.m. on Thursday nights through Oct. 30, with one Saturday session during the course on Saturday, Oct. 11 from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.

* Call Spencer Hospital's class registration line to reserve your spot in the fall session at 264-6142. If you'd like to visit with someone to receive more information regarding the class before you register, call 264-6636.