♪ MAARJA: WELCOME TO "ALMANAC NORTH," I'M MAARJA HEWITT.

BRETT: AND I'M BRETT SCOTT THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

TONIGHT, WE'RE CELBRATING H DAY AROUND THE REGION.

MAARJA: WE'RE ALSO SITTINGN WITH T DULUTH LIONS CLUB TO TALK ABOUT PANCAKE DAY.

BRETT: THAT'S COMING UP, BT FIRST THIS WEEK, MINNESOTA CELEBRATES HOME VISITOR APPRECIATION WEEK, RECOGNIG THE DEDICATED PROFESSIONALO SUPPORT FAMILIES THROUGH PREGNANCY AND EARLY CHILDH FAMILY HOME VISITING IS A , VOLUNTARY SERVICE CONNECTIG FAMILIES WITH CARE, EDUCAT, AND COMMUNITY RESOURCESLEAG TO HEALTHIER OUTCOMES AND GREATER SELF-SUFFICIENCY.

THE GOVERNOR'S PROCLAMATION HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPACT OF OR 47,000 HOME VISITS LAST YER ACROSS MINNESOTA.

TO LEARN MORE OR CONNECT WA HOME VISITOR IN YOUR AREA,T HELP ME CONNECT AT MN.GOV.

MAARJA: A MAJOR MILESTONE Y FOR THE TWIN PORTS INTERCHE PROJECT IN DULUTH MNDOT HT THE FINAL BEAM, MARKING THD OF A KEY STRUCTURAL PHASE E MASSIVE RECONSTRTION EFFOR.

THIS STEP BRINGS THE REGION CLOSER TO SAFER ROADS AND SMOOTHER FREIGHT MOVEMENT.

MNDOT IS HOSTING A VIRTUAL PUBLIC MEETING THIS MONDAY, APRIL 28 AT 12:15 P.M. TO E UPDATES AND ANSWER QUESTIO DETAILS ON HOW TO JOIN ARET DOT.STATE.MN.US.

STAY INFORMED BY FOLLOWINGT NORTHEAST ON FACEBOOK OR VT 511MN.ORG FOR REAL-TIME TRC UPDATES.

BRETT: ST. LOUIS COUNTY PRY OWNERS IN THE HIBBING AREAW HAVE A NEW IN-PERSON OPTIOO PAY THEIR PROPERTY TAXES.

WITH THE MAY 15 DEADLINE APPROACHING, PAYMENTS CAN E MADE AT THE HIBBING COURTHE RECORDER'S OFFICE BY CHECK, MONEY ORDER, OR CASH.

OTHER IN-PERSON LOCATIONS INCLUDE DULUTH, VIRGINIA, D THE MILLER HILL MALL YOU CAN ALSO PAY ONLINE FOE USING A BANK ACCOUNT.

MAARJA: NEXT WE'LL SEND YOR TO DENNY'S DESK WITHENNY ANDERSON.

DENNY?

DENNY: THANK YOU, MAARJA.

I'M DENNIS ANDERSON, AND TS DENNY'S DESK.

RURAL VOICES OFTEN DON'T RE THE SAME LEVEL OF ATTENTION MEDIA AND PUBLIC CONVERSATS THOSE FROM LARGER CITIES OR POPULATION CENTERS.

AS NEWSROOMS SHRINK AND MEA OUTLETS CONSOLIDATE, STORIS FROM SMALLER COMMUNITIES CE LEFT OUT.

WHEN THAT HAPPENS, IT BECOS HARDER FOR RURAL AREAS TO E FULLY SEEN, HEARD, OR UNDERSTOOD.

THAT'S WHY IT'S SO CRITICAT RAL VOICES CONTINUE TO BE HEARD THROUGH JOURNALISM, STORYTELLING, AND PUBLIC CONVERSATION.

IN COMMUNITIES OF EVERY SI, PUBLIC MEDIA HELPS FILL A CRUCIAL GAP.

IT BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER D SHARED STORIES AND SHARED VALUES.

ITHINES A LIGHT ON THE THIS THAT MATTER MOST TO PEOPLE: JOBS, EDUCATION, HEALTHCAR, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THE UNE CULTURE THAT DEFINES LIFE OUTSIDE THE METRO.

AND IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT W'S HAPPENING NOW.

IT'S ABOUT PRESERVING THE Y OF SMALL TOWNS, FAMILY FAR, TRIBAL NATIONS, AND WORKING COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE SHAPR REGION FOR GENERATIONS.

FROM OJIBWE LANGUAGE PRESERVATION TO VETERANS' STORIES IN ELY OR ECONOMIC INNOVATION IN HIBBING, WHEE ELEVATE RURAL STORIES, WE E THAT HISTORY ISN'T LOST ANT PROGRESS ISN'T JUST RESERVR MAJOR POPULATION CENTERS.

RURAL AMERICA IS NOT A REL IT'S A LIVING, BREATHING PF SEEN, HEARD, AND UNDERSTOOH THE SAME ATTENTION AS ANYWE ELSE.

WHEN RURAL VOICES ART OF THE CONVERSATION, WE GEA FULLER PICTURE OF WHO WE A, AND WHO WE HOPE TO BECOME.

THIS HAS BEEN DENNY'S DESK BACK TO YOU, MAARJA MAARJA: THANK YOU, DENNY.

ON THIS WEEK'S MAKING IT UP NORTH, WE'RE MEETING KEEGAN FOSTER, ANOTHER CAL SOLOIST WHO JOINED THE MESABI SYMPY ORCHESTRA RECENTLY.

HERE'S WHAT SHE HAD TO SAYT THE EXPERIENCE.

THE EXPERIENCE.

>> I WASG OUT IN SCHOOL.

IT WAS ALWAYS MY FAVORITE SUBJECTS, MUSIC.

I GOT INTO HIGH SCHOOL ANDS AND HOW THE CHOIRS I COULDE IN.

I DID MUSICALS AND THINGS E THAT.

THERE WAS ALWAYS MY FAVORIE PART OF MY SCHOOL Y.

GOING INTO COLLEGE, I JOINE CHOIR RIGHT AGO.

A FEW THINGS LED TO ANOTHED I ENDED UP SWITCHING TO BEA MUSIC MAJOR MY SECOND SEMER OF RUSSIAN YEAR.

I WOULD SAY MY BIGGEST MUSL INSOLENCE ARE ALL MY TEACHS GOING THROUGH ELEMENTARY AD MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCH.

ALL THE WAY INTO COLLEGE WI STARTED IN THE UNIVERSITY SINGERS CHOIR.

I WAS REALLY INSPIRED BY AE PIERCE.

SHE WAS THE OPERA DIRECTOR.

SHE REALLY INSPIRED ME TO E A MUSIC MAJOR.

MY CURRENT VOICE TEACHER IO ENCOURAGING.

I WOULD NOT BE WHERE I AM Y WITHOUT ALL OF MY PAST TEA.

I HEARD ABOUT THIS COMPETIN FROM MY CURRENT VOICE TEAC.

I DECIDED TO ENTER BECAUSED NEVER REALLY DONE A BIG PERFORMANCE WITHIN ORCHEST, ESPECIALLY A PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRA.

I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A REY AMAZING OPPORTUNITY.

SOME DIFFERENT THINGS WENTO PREPARING FOR THE COMPETIT.

WE FIRST SUBMITTED VIDEOS.

I RECORDED TWO ARIAS THAT I ENDED UP STAYING FOR THE AUDITION.

I SENT THOSE VIDEOS AND ANN THE AUDITION PANEL WATCH TM AND GOT BACK TO ME AND SAIY WANTED ME TO COME SAYING OM IN PERSON.

SO I WENT TO VIRGINIA, MINA AND SAYING FOR THE CONDUCT.

I FOUND OUT A FEW DAYS LATR THAT I GOT IT.

I WILL BE PERFORNG TWO ARIS BY PUCCINI, ONE OF MY FAVOE COMPOSERS.

I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON BOTF THESE PIECES FOR A WHILE.

ONE OF THEM I STARTED LAST SPRING.

THAT WAS FEELING PRETTY COMFORTABLE TO ME.

I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON IT .

I THINK BOTH OF THEM SHOW A RANGE OF EMOTION AND VOCAL STYLES.

I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOD IDEA TO DO BOTH OF THESE.

FOR MY FIRST ARIA I SANG, E CHARACTER IS A YOUNGER GIRL GOING THROUGH A LOT OF DIFT EMOTIONS.

IT IS MORE OF A HEAVY EMOTL PIECE.

I TRIED TO CHANNEL HOW I WD FEEL IF I WAS LIKE A HIGH L GIRL GOING THROUGH SOME DR.

I THINK THAT HELPED ME FINE CHARACTER.

THE OTHER CHARACTER IS VERY OPPOSITE OF THAT.

OPPOSITE OF THAT.SHE IS RES NOT CARE WHAT ANYONE THINKS EXCEPT FOR THIS ONE GUY WHE IS BASICALLY TRYING TO MAKE JEALOUS.

SO IT IS VERY DIFFERENT FRE OTHER CHARACTER.

THAT WHEN I WORKED A LOT WY VOICE TEACHER ON FINDING HI WANT TO PUT MY CHARACTER IO IT.

I AM INHERENTLY NOT VERY S. I'M A LITTLE MORE SHY.

IT WAS JUST FINDING THE SAY CHARACTER ON MY OWN.

A LOT OF PRACTICING AND RECORDING IT AND GETTING FEEDBACK FROM MY VOICE TEA.

I AM USE TO SINGING WITH JA PIANO.

I HAVE WORKED WITH AMAZING ACCOMPANISTS THROUGH THE YS FOR WORKING WITH THE WHOLE ORCHESTRA, THERE ARE A LOTE MOVING PARTS.

WHILE PREPARING FOR THIS PERFORMANCE, I KEEP YOUR MY MYSELF THAT IT IS NOT EXACY HOW I AM USE TO DOING IT.

IT IS A LOT RE THINKING ABT DIFFERENT TEMPOS THAT MAY'M NOT QUITE AS USED TO AND FINE-TUNING EVERYTHING TOG.

MORE MOVING PARTS.

I DO A LOT OF THINGS TO MEY AND PHYSICALLY PREPARE FORG PERFORMANCES.

I DRINK A TON OF WATER THES LEADING UP TO IT.

I GET REALLY GOOD SLEEP.

MENTALLY I HAVE TO MAKE SUE THAT I DO NOT WORK MYSELF O MUCH OR PSYCH MYSELF OUT BE NGING IS SUCH A MENTAL GAM.

I KEEP TELLING MYSELF I KNW THESE PIECES VERY WELL LIKE BACK OF MY HAND AND I KNOWT BEFORE I GO IN STAGE I WILL PROBABLY SHAKE OUT ALL OF Y ATTENTION AND TAKE SOME DEP BREATHS AND FOCUS AND I KNI WILL DO THEEST I POSSIBLY .

MY ADVICE TO YOUNG MUSICIAS WOULD BE TAKE EVERY OPPORTY YOU ARE GIVEN.

THE MORE YOU PERFORM, THE R YOU GET UP WARMING.

EACH PERFORMANCE WILL BE DIFFERENT.

YOU WILL NEVER PERFORM EXAY THE WAY YOU WANT TO.

THAT IS SOMETHING I'M STILL LEARNING.

I THINK TAKING EVERY PERFOE OPPORTUNITY YOU ARE GIVEN Y ADVICE.

♪ BRETT: OUR GUEST THIS WEEKS JIM PRATT FROM THE DULUTH S CLUB, THE GROUP THAT PUTS E ANNUAL PANCAKE DAY AT THE JIM, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> IT IS MY PLEASURE TO PRT YOU WITH THE VERY FIRST OFL PANCAKE.

OUR GOAL IS TO SERVE 10,000 PEOPLE THIS YEAR.

NOW WE ONLY HAVE A FEW MORE THOUSANDS AGO.

HERE IS SOME BUTTER.

MAARJA: WHAT AN HONOR.

BRETT: THIS IS EVERYTHING U GET WHEN YOU COME TO PANCAE DAY.

BRETT: WE ARE GOING TO EATD YOU CAN JUST KEEP TALKING.

MAARJA: IT IS DINNER TIME.

BRETT: PEOPLE COME DOWN TOT SOME HORSESHOES.

THERE IS SOME FOR YOU GUYS.

WE HAVE MILK.

MAARJA: YOU BROUGHT ALL OFE PROPS.

BRETT: WE DID.

EXCEPT FOR THE BLUEBERRY AD STRAWBERRY TOPPINGS.

I COULD NOT FIND A WAY TO G THOSE.

THESE ARE OFFICIALLY THE FT PANCAKES OF THE66TH ANNUAL PANCAKE DAY.

MAARJA: WHAT GIVES THE PANE DAY SO MUCH STAYING POWER?

IT IS A FAVORITE IN THE AR.

>> IT IS A GREAT GET TOGET.

10,000 PEOPLE IS OUR GOAL.

IT IS PART OF THE COMMUNIT.

IT IS SOMETHING YOU DO EVEY YEAR.

THE STORIES YOU HEAR AT PAE DA, I HAVE BEEN COMING SINI WAS A CHILD.

WE HAVE HAD PEOPLE WHO HAVE PROPOSED.

AS YOU WALK AROUND THE FLO, YOU HEAR A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING.

MAARJA: PINK TAKE PROPOSAL.

I LOVE THAT.

BRETT: SO WE CAN HIDE ENGAT RINGS IN THE PANCAKES?

>> THAT IS A CREATIVE IDEA.

BRETT: YOU ALSO HAVE SOME E OPPORTUNITIES.

>> WE HAVE FREE PARKING.

WE HAVE GLUTEN-FREE PANCAK.

AND KIDS UNDER FOUR ARE FR.

THOSE ARE THE BIG FREEZE T. MAARJA: FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVT BEEN TO PANCAKE DAY BEFORET DO YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFOREU GO?

>> IT DEPENDS ON IF YOU WAO GO AND SEE A LOT OF PEOPLER COME AND QUIETER TIMES OF E DAY.

THERE ARE TIMES A DAY WHENS PACKED.

AND THERE ARE OTHER TIMES N YOU CAN JUST SIT DOWN COMFORTABLY AT EACH YOUR PANCAKES AND TALK TO YOUR FRIENDS.

YOU SEE PEOPLE ALL OVER.

I HAVE BEEN SERVING COFFEEO THE SAME COUPLES EVERY YEAO COME FROM 50 MILES IN EACH DIRECTION AND THEY MEET AT PANCAKE DAY.

BRETT: WHAT A STORY.

THAT IS PRETTY COOL.

WE ARE ALL COMING OUT OF HIBERNATION SO IT IS A GOOE TO CATCH UP.

YOU HAVE SO MANY SPONSORS INVOLVED IN THIS EVENT.

HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT?

>> WE CANNOT DO IT WITHOUT SPONSORS AND VOLUNTEERS.

THE VOLUNTEERS MAKE IT HAP.

EVERYTHING WE MAKE AT PANCE DAY GOES BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY.

THE MORE SPONSORS WE HAVE,T MONEY IS GOING BACK INTO TE COMMUNITY.

MAARJA: YOU MENTIONED THE VOLUNTEERS.

WHERE YOU COME UP WITH THEE PEOPLE?

DO PEOPLE COME?

?

BACK YEAR AFTER YEAR >> SOE PEOPLE COME ONCE AND NEVER AGAIN.

OTHERS COME YEAR AFTER YEA.

MAARJA: YOU EXPLAINED THE PANCAKES WELL.

I WAS NERVOUS ABOUT FLIPPIG PANCAKES BECAUSE AT HOME TY ARE EITHER OVERDONE OR UNDERDONE.

BUT NOT OBTAINED DAY.

YOU GUYS HAVE IT DOWN.

BRETT: 35 BUBBLES IS THE S. BRETT: TALK A LITTLE BIT AT THOSE GRIDDLES THAT YOU US.

YOU HAVE IT DOWN.

AFTER 66 YEARS.

>> I HAVE NOT BEEN TO ALL .

[LAUGHTER] WE HAVE OUR OWN GRIDDLES AD THEY ARE VERY SPECIFIC.

WE CAN DO 46 PANCAKES AT A.

WE ARE VERY PARTICULAR.

WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO HAA BAD EXPERIENCE.

IT IS A PROCESS.

WE HAVE CERTAIN PEOPLE DOIE SAME THING FOR YEARS.

THAT IS THEIR JOB.

MAARJA: AND THIS IS ALL A FUNDRAISER.

YOU'RE PUTTING MONEY BACK O THE COMMUNITY.

YOU HAVE SOME PILLARS OF SERVICE.

>> WE DON'T DO IT FOR THE F IT.

WE DO IT TO RAISE MONEY.

THAT VISION BECAME A PILLA.

EYESIGHT, HEARING, AND THE ASSOCIATION WITH DIABETES.

WE HELP FUND RESEARCH MONER DIABETES CURES.

THAT IS ONE OF OUR LARGEST FUNDRAISERS.

CHILDHOOD CANCER, YOUTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES.

WE MAKE OUR EFFORT TO RECYE THE SOFT PLASTIC.

THERE ARE EIGHT PILLARS.

THERE WERE FOUR WHEN I STA.

THEY KEEP ON TAKING ON DIFT CAUSES.

IT IS NOT JUST WT WE DO LOCALLY BUT IT IS OUR AFFILIATION WITH SOME LIONS FOUNDATIONS.

BRETT: YOU ARE ALSO COLLECG THINGS DURING PANCAKE DAY?

IS IT EYEWEAR?

>> EYEGLASSES AND HEARING .

IF YOU HAVE SOME AROUND THE HOUSE THAT YOU WANT TO DRO, WE WILL GLADLY RECYCLE THO.

MANY TIMES PEOPLE CANNOT AD GLASSES.

MAARJA: ANDCREENING FOR DIABETES AS WELL?

>> WE WILL BE SCREENING FOR DIABETES IN THE MORNING.

AND WE HAVE VISION SCREENIS WELL IN THE AFTERNOON.

FREE VISION SCREENING.

BRETT: THE LIONS IS AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION.

IT IS PANCAKE DAY UNIQUE TO DULUTH?

>> I CANNOT SAY THAT.

BUT I THINK WDO A BIGGER BETTER THAN ANYBODY.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE.

IT IS NOT A NATIONAL THINGI THINK OVER THE YEARS THEREE BEEN A LOT OF LIONS CLUBS T HAVE HAD PANCAKE DAYS.

WE HAVE A LOT OF LIONS FROM OTHER CLUBS IN MINNESOTA TT COME TO HELP US AND THEY SW , THIS IS SOMETHING.

MAARJA: HOW IS THE HEALTH E DULUTH LIONS CLUB IN A REG?

ARE THE NUMBERS GROWING?

>> WE ARE SOLID.

WE HAVE ABOUT 85 MEMBERS IR CLUB.

EVERYBODY IS WELCOME.

ANYONE WHO IS INTERESTED CN FIND OUT MORE ON OUR WEBSI.

WE ARE ALSO ON FACEBOOK.

MAARJA: DO YOU HAVE ANY OTR FUNDRAISERS COMING UP?

>> PANCAKE DATE IS A YEAR-D PLANNING PROCESS.

BECAUSE WE ARE THINKING ABT ALL THE TIME.

IN JANUARY WE KICK IT OFF FULL-TIME TO MAKE IT HAPPE.

IT IS A BIG EVENT.

WE ARE ACTIVE FUNDRAISING.

AND WE GET BUSY SELLING CAL APPLES IN THE FALL.

WILL CONSIDER ANYTHING IFE CAN RAISE SOME MORE MONEY T WE CAN GET BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.

89% OF THE MONEY WE RAISE S RIGHT BACK INTO THE DULUTH COMMUNITY.

THE OTHER 11% GOES TO FOUNDATIONS.

SO YOU KNOW THE MONEY IS GG TO A GOOD PLACE.

WE HAVE HAD WONDERFUL SPON.

IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED, YN COME DOWN.

YOU CAN BUY A TICKET.

WE WILL SEE WHAT CAN HAPPEH PEOPLE BUYING TICKETS ONLI.

THERE IS ALSO A WAY TO DON.

MAARJA: ANYBODY WHO IS BEEA REGULAR AT NCAKE DAY, YOU PROBABLY RECOGNIZE.

HE OFTEN GOES AROUND PHIL'S COFFEE FOR PEOPLE.

DO YOU HAVE ANY FAVORITE MEMORIES?

>> ONE DAY A YEAR I GET TOE THE COFFEE MAN.

IT IS A CONVERSATION START.

PEOPLE CALL ME FROM WAY OVS TO GET COFFEE.

I THINK SOME MY FAVORITE MEMORIES ARE JUST SEEING TE PEOPLE.

WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF FUN SG UP AND TAKING IT DOWN.

WE TRY TO STAY IN GOOD SPI.

EVERYBODY WORKS HARD.

SOMETIMES WE WERE AFRAID TE WOULD RUN OUT OF STUFF.

WE WERE PANICKING.

WE LITERALLY CAME VERY BRE: BRETT: CLOSE TO RUNNING OUF FOOD.

HOW DO YOU PLAN FOR SOMETHG LIKE THIS?

>> WE HAVE GREAT SUPPLIERSO WORK WITH US.

WE HAVE A GENTLEMAN WHO WAN THE END BEEN TOURING FOR Y.

-- INVENTORYING FOR YEARS.

WE KIND OF RAMPED UP BASEDN THOSE NUMBERS.

WE FIX IT.

EVERYBODY WILL GET FED.

MAARJA: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

A WEEK FROM TODAY.

>> CONGRATULATIONS.

MAARJA: THANK YOU FOR DINN.

BRETT: THEY ARE GOOD.

I MIGHT STEAL HERS.

[LAUGHTER] MAARJA: ON THIS WEEK'S VENE NORTH, HEAD OVER TO LAKE SUPERIOR COLLEGE'S EARTH DY FAIR, WHERE OVER 30 VENDORS GATHERED TO SHARE HOW TO CE FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT AND HAA LITTLE FUN ALONG THE WAY.

♪ >> I AM A LIBRARIAN AT LAKE SUPERIOR COLLEGE.

I HAVE PUT THIS TOGETHER TT A NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS D COMMUNITIES AND GROUPS TO CELEBRATE EARTH DAY.

IT IS A WAY TO RAISE AWARES OF WHAT WE DO FOR PLANET E. EVERY DAY THINGS THAT WE DT WE SHARE THE PLANET WITH.

JUST BEING AWARE OF OUR PRACTICES AND WHAT WE DO.

THE VENDORS HAVE SPENT ABOT THREE YEARS.

BUT THIS HAS BEEN GOING ONR ALMOST 20 YEARS.

IT RAISES AWARENESS ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONL PRACTICES.

IT IS A WAY FOR GROUPS TO E TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE EART.

BEFORE I KNEW IT, WE HAVE 0 VENDORS.

IT HAS BEEN A REALLY ENJOYE TO GET TO KNOW EVERYONE ANE THEM HERE.

WE HAVE MANY SUPPORTERS.

IT IS SUCH A FUN EVENT.

THE VENDORS ARE VERY HAPPYE HERE.

EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY S AWAY SOMETHING IN THE DAY.

WHETHER IT IS MORE SUSTAINE PRACTICES WITH LAUNDRY OR O HAVE NATIVE LANDSCAPES.

LEARNING MORE ABOUT INVASIE SPECIES.

BASICALLY JUST BEING AWAREF THINGS WE DO THROUGHOUT TH.

BEING MORE AWARE OF YOUR AS AND HOW THEY IMPACT THE PL.

♪ BRETT: WE JUST KEEP DIGGIN.

BACK TO THE PANCAKES.

MAARJA: IF MY BOYS ARE WATG THEY ARE GOING TO BE VERY JEALOUS THAT I GET BREAKFAR DINNER.

BRET WHEN I WAS A KID, WE E THAT A LOT.

I DID NOT LOVE IT.

NOW THAT I'M AN ADULT, IT A GAME CHANGER.

BEFORE WE GO, LET'S TAKE AK AT WHAT YOU MIGHT BE UP TOS WEEKEND.

THERE IS A LOT GOING ON.

THIS SATURDAY NIGHT, THE MINNESOTA BALLET HOSTS A POWERFUL ONE-NIGHT-ONLY PERFORMANCE AT STUDIO FOUR INSIDE THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY DEPOT.

IT'S THE CULMINATION OF A TWO-WEEK COLLABORATION BETN VETERANS AND ARTISTS WHERE PERSONAL STORIES WERE TRANSFORMED INTO MOVEMENT D THEATER.

THE RESULT IS A MOVING DISY OF CONNECTION, CREATIVITY,D COMMUNITY.

THE SHOW STARTS AT 7:00 P.. TICKETS ARE $15, BUT VETERS GET IN FREE.

MAARJA: AND IF GETTING OUTS IS FOR YOU, THEN YOU'RE IN.

IT'S FREE PARK DAY FOR MINA STATE PARKS.

ON FOUR DAYS PER YEAR, THE MINNESOTA DNR WAVES ADMISSS FEES TO AL75 STATE PARKS, T INCLUDING ACTIVITY FEES SUS CAMPING, RENTALS, OR TOURST MINNESOTANS LIVE WITHIN 30S OF A STATE PARK SO YOU CANE THE PARK FINDER TOOL TO FIE CLOSEST PARK NEAR YOU.

MORE INFORMATION CAN BE FON HE DNR'S WEBSITE.

BRETT: CONTINUE TO CELEBRAE EARTH DAY THIS WEEK WITH ECOLIBRIUM 3 FROM 9:00 AM O NOON THIS SATURDAY!

FOLKSN GATHER WITH THEIR FRIENDS O HELP CLEAN UP LINCOLN PARK.

BAKED GOODS, COFFEE, AND OR TREATS WILL BE PROVIDED.

SL GROUPS WILL MEET AT URSA MR WHILE GROUPS OF 11 OR MORE SHOULD MEET AT CLYDE IRON .

MAARJA: EARTH DAY, PANCAKE, FREE PARK DAY.

A LOT TO CELEBRATE.

BRETT: I LIKE MY PANCAKES.

DO YOU EVER DO A MICKEY MOE PANCAKE.

MAARJA: YOU CAN DO CHOCOLAE CHIPS AND RASPBERRIES FOR E PHASE.

THINGS LIKE THAT.

BRETT: THEY HAVE ALL OF THE TOPPINGS.

MAARJA: THEY SURE DO.

BRETT: LET'S JUST FAST-FORD THE PANCAKE DAY.

THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK'S GO OUT AND ENJOY YOUR WEEK MAARJA: I'M BRETT SCOTT, AND I'M MAARJA HEWITT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

GOOD NIGHT.

♪