Silent auction

This specially-designed quilt is one of many items available to the highest bidder at the silent auction for the Central Lakes College Foundation as part of the fund-raiser Sept. 10 and 11 at Grand View Lodge. Each evening features the music of the Hunt Family (Irish music and dance), plus the elegant dinner prepared by Grand View chefs. To make this quilt, Leann Schoenle (left) and Ellie Knold did the piecing and Arlene Fitzpatrick did the machine quilting. The quilt is about 6 ft high and 7 ft wide, made from fabrics that were designed for the MN Quilt Shop Hop in 2009. Each year the state selects special fabrics for this event. Over 83 shops statewide participate in this shop hop. In 2009, Leann visited 65 of the shops. The farthest north she went was Roseau and the farthest south was to the MN/Iowan border cities. Leann purchased fabrics all through the state for this beautiful quilt. A few other auction items: 6-course Italian wine dinner for 6 by Tom Kavanaugh; Viking weekend including 2 tickets; Chanhassen dinner theatre weekend with tickets and overnight stay ; Wild Game Cooking experience by Mike Burton; Jon Hassler canvas original oil painting donated by Steve Wenzel; Gull Lake sunset cruise with hors d'oeuvres for 6 by Milo Johnson and Jeff Olson.The silent auction and social time starts at 5:30 p.m. both days, with dinner at 6:30 and the show at 7:30. Come enjoy and support CLC student scholarships provided by the Foundation. The Foundation office has more information, or buy your tickets at www.clctickets.com

Irish music for a cause

Last year the Central Lakes College Foundation made 126 awards worth $31,500 in Random Acts of Kindness. The RAK Fund originated with support from the Holden family, Bremer Foundation, Brainerd Lakes Community Foundation, and now includes individual donors. “We continue to make awards from the fund,” said Pam Thomsen, CLC Foundation director. The biggest CLC Foundation fund-raiser is the Sept. 10 and 11 silent auction, dinner and concert in the Gull Lake Center at Grand View Lodge, Nisswa. This year's event features the Irish music and dance of an international ensemble, The Hunt Family. “The Hunt Family performs original, Celtic, bluegrass, inspirational and popular tunes, offering a unique blend of diversity to every show,” said Thomsen. “They will be so entertaining, and with a great dinner and silent auction, our generous friends are sure to enjoy the show and make a difference in students’ lives.” Thomsen said that $37 of each $75 ticket is a tax-deductible donation to the CLC Foundation. The social/silent auction at 5:30 is followed by dinner at 6:30 and the concert at 7:30. Tickets are available at www.clctickets.com, or call for information, 218-855-8135.

Raiders lose home VB opener

The Central Lakes College Raiders had a tough night in their home opener on Tuesday, but it may pay dividends later in the season. The Raiders lost 3-1 to undefeated Ridgewater (5-0) and saw their season record drop to 2-3. Ridgewater won the first two games 25-16 and 25-11 before CLC bounced back with a 25-20 victory. Ridgewater then ended the match with a 25-11 triumph in the deciding game. Melissa Wildman tallied six kills and Rachel Pfeffer contributed 19 set assists to lead the Raiders' offensive attack. Wildman had 13 digs, and Megan Rakow finished with 12 on defensive. The Raiders host Mesabi Friday and Vermilion Saturday.

Volleyball team splits

The Central Lakes College Raiders opened with a 3-2 win over Bismarck State and a 3-1 loss to Ellsworth Saturday during the Ridgewater tournament. With both opponents of the Division II variety, Raiders head coach Jane Peterson was pleased but said there is much work to be done. In the Bismarck victory, the Raiders' Melissa Widman (left) tallied 18 digs, 12 kills and three ace serves. Jenna Terhaar posted 12 kills, five digs and four blocks and freshman Nikki Pearson added nine kills, nine digs and three blocks. Sophomore setter Rachel Pfeffer finished with 37 set assists, 13 digs and two kills and Megan Rakow collected 26 digs. Against Ellsworth, Widman finished with 19 digs and 12 kills, Terhaar had 10 kills, five blocks and Kaitlyn Roerick added six kills and five blocks. Pfeffer registered 23 set assists to go with seven digs and two kills. Widman had 20 kills, two aces, and 18 digs in the opening day at the tournament. Terhaar added 14 kills, one ace and two blocks and Pearson 11 kills, one ace, 14 digs and one block as CLC lost to Rochester 3-0 and beat Dakota College 3-1. CLC (2-2) hosts Ridgewater 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Raiders win football opener

Nick Grewe rushed for 108 yards and a touchdown to help the Central Lakes College Raiders open their season with a 21-6 victory over Fond Du Lac Saturday at St. Cloud State University. Dominique Corder threw for 114 yards and a 2-yard touchdown on 11-of-15 passing. That allowed CLC to outgain FDL 361 to 163. Corder found six different targets, including Ryan Fay and Tyler Erickson three times each. Michael Iverson also rumbled in a 1-yard touchdown during the Raiders' 15-point second quarter. Kaleb Anderson and Stoney Burns picked off passes for the Raiders defense, which didn't surrender any points until the fourth quarter. The Raiders travel to Northland Saturday. Northland was blanked by Rochester 26-0 on Thursday. In other games Saturday at Husky Stadium, Itasca beat Ridgewater 7-0. Mesabi Range outscored Fergus Falls 33-13 and Minnesota West topped Vermilion 35-12.

Social entrepreneur

In 2002, when Simon Stumpf left Pierz Healy High School and took a year’s worth of classes at Central Lakes College, he was already embracing change. Advocacy was in his nature. In 2006 he graduated with honors from Yale University, majoring in anthropology and African studies. This academic path has led his good intentions to work for an organization that is creating meaningful social impact in the world. Stumpf is a change-manager for the non-profit organization Ashoka founded almost 30 years ago by Bill Drayton, a former Environmental Protection Agency official, in order to build an army of social entrepreneurs. Ashoka, with the support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is dedicated to helping create global justice through farming. Across Sub-Saharan Africa and India, rural communities that rely on agriculture for their food and income are facing increasingly complex challenges. Social entrepreneurs pioneer solutions to overcome systematic obstacles facing small farmers. Stumpf’s assignment as a manager is to assist with rural innovation and farming. “I believe in the power of engaged global citizenship,” he explained. He and his wife head to Kenya Sept. 16 for at least two years, perhaps longer, as part of the Ashoka commitment. For more information, go to www.ashoka.org

Band rehearsals

The Central Lakes College Community Band will begin its fall season with the first rehearsal Monday, Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. in the Rehearsal Hall (E471) on the Brainerd campus. Rehearsals will continue on the following Mondays: Sept. 20, Oct. 4, 11, 18, 25, Nov. 1 and 8. The fall concert is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m. in Chalberg Theater. Membership for the Community Band is open to brass, woodwind and percussion players from high school juniors and seniors through CLC students and adult musicians. Interested musicians may contact Steve Anderson, director, at 218-855-8215, 218-765-3756 or sanderso@clcmn.edu for information.