Poetry workshop, reading

Richard Fenton Sederstrom will lead a poetry workshop, give a public reading, and facilitate creative writing classes during a visit to Central Lakes College in Brainerd Oct. 4-6. Sederstrom, a retired English professor who served as a student writing contest judge at CLC last spring, lives in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona and Mexico and the north woods of Minnesota near Park Rapids. He was raised in Minnesota. His first book, “Fall Pictures on an Abandoned Road,” was released in 2009. “Disordinary Light” came out in 2010, and a new book, “Folly, A Book of Last Summers,” appeared in June. His poetry has been published in Avocet, The Talking Stick, English Journal, Plainsongs, Big Muddy, Mother Earth Journal, The Blue Guitar, Memoir (and), and Ruminate among other journals and magazines.He will present a poetry workshop Wednesday, Oct. 5 from 3 to 5 p.m. in E203 for all levels of interest and ability, according to Leane Flynn of the CLC English Department. The public is invited to a free poetry reading Thursday, Oct. 6 from 7 to 8 p.m. in the Jon Hassler Library. During the afternoon Tuesday, Oct. 4 and Thursday, Oct. 6 Sederstrom will be facilitating workshops in the creative writing class taught by Donna Salli at CLC.

Mental health services

Northern Pines Mental Health Center, Inc. has begun providing campus counseling and outpatient therapy to Central Lakes College students. Kimberly Scearcy and Tammy Kmecik, mental health professionals from Northern Pines, are working from offices on the Brainerd campus for daily access. Scearcy is in C104 Monday-Wednesday, and Kmecik is in C105 Thursday and Friday. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The therapists will travel to the Staples campus as needed. Scearcy has begun working at CLC; Kmecik starts Sept. 16. Beth Adams, dean of enrollment management and student services at CLC, said the partnership with Northern Pines is in response to an increasing need for mental health services among the student body. Appointments are made through the CLC Counseling Center, with faculty and staff first referring students to CLC counselors for a brief assessment and referral, if appropriate. Adams said counselors will be able to schedule appointments. Students will complete an intake and complete paperwork to determine payment options. Services are typically covered by insurance plans or, for students without insurance a sliding fee scale is available to ensure affordability.

State Fair

Central Lakes College was represented at the Minnesota State Fair on Sunday, Sept. 4. Participating at the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities booth in the Education Building on the fairgrounds in St. Paul were Gayle Wonders, Jennifer Hirsch, and Jill Albie from the Admissions Department at CLC. They worked a 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. shift and said they met many young people, including a number of high school juniors who have started the process of a college search. They made sure to provide materials about our community and technical college, with its campuses in Brainerd and Staples and our variety of course delivery mechanisms such as online. "It was a fun experience," Gayle said. She snapped a photo of Jennifer and Jill pointing to the Minnesota wall map showing the location of CLC.

Governor's economic forum

Central Lakes College will host a Friday, Sept. 9 Jobs and Economic Development Forum with a 12-person panel that includes Gov. Mark Dayton and CLC President Larry Lundblad. The forum will be from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in Chalberg Theatre on the Brainerd campus. The first 30 minutes will feature three-minute overviews from the panelists in our region about challenges and opportunities. The remaining time will be opened up for audience participation. This is one of eight forums established by the Governor's Office leading to the October Minnesota Jobs Summit.

Diversity welcome event

The Brainerd campus of Central Lakes College on Wednesday, Aug. 31 held a new event -- the Welcome Students Diversity Day. During the lunch hour near the cafeteria, CLC diversity organizations provided walk-up information and incentives to sign up. The Diversity Leadership Council, Equality Coalition, and International Club were pleasantly surprised to greet over 350 students during the short period of time. Mary Sam, Director of Diversity, invites students to participate. The DLC adviser is Tashana Husom, meetings are Mondays, noon-12:45 in C200. The Equality Coalition adviser is Christina Kavanaugh, meetings are every other Monday at 3 p.m.; International Club advisers are Adam Marcotte and Lori-Beth Larsen, meetings are the first and third Monday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Rosenmeier Center at the Jon Hassler Library.

Education Fair

Central Lakes College on Friday, Sept. 23 will host the free Education Fair for high school students and their parents. The event is from 9 to 11:30 a.m. in the Brainerd campus gymnasium. It offers an opportunity to explore options for continued education or military service after high school. Presentatives from nearly 90 educational institutions and other organizations will be on hand to answer questions and provide important information for post-high school planning. It is sponsored by the Minnesota Association for College Admissions Counseling.

Shuttle service

Mark Ambroz, a CLC videography production instructor, has announced that a seven-passenger van will provide shuttle service for staff and students between the Brainerd and Staples main campus during regular school days. He will be at the wheel for Brainerd departures at 7:15 a.m. and will return the same day, leaving Staples at 4:15 p.m. The round-trip cost is $4 per passenger, and punch cards may be purchased from the Business Office. Parking in Brainerd is at the west end of the west parking lot. To book a seat, email Mark at mambroz@clcmn.edu