It was a wonderful morning - there were just a few of us, but that made it just perfect. As I sat and listened, thinking I was only an 'outsider' because I was not caring for my spouse, my thoughts wondered to where my support comes from.

Brainerd has a community garden again.Volunteers finished setting up the garden last week to prepare 90 plots consisting of 5-foot by 10-foot or 5-foot by 24-foot plots. Residents who rented a plot have already started planting.The community garden, located southwest of Kiwanis Park near the Mississippi River, was initiated in 2009 by members of the Blandin Community Leadership Program training program.

Are you 50 or older? Do you want to attend an event that will provide new insights into your faith journey and spiritual life? Or do you want a place to go to develop friendships?If you answered yes to any of these questions, a program started by First Lutheran Church in Brainerd entitled The Lakes Area Second Half Enrichment Series is for you.

Crow Wing County commissioners agreed Tuesday to enter an agreement linking the cities of Brainerd, Baxter, the Brainerd School District and Central Lakes College.The goal is to take advantage of savings through a joint powers agreement in regard to purchasing goods or services, such as lawn fertilizer, cleaning chemicals or ice melt. Through the agreement if one of the members goes out for bids the other joint powers members would have the option of purchasing off that bid.

A federal appeals court suspended Virginia's ban on a controversial abortion procedure and signaled Friday that the law - the only one of its kind to survive earlier court challenges - is unlikely ever to be revived.

On Thursday morning, Dec. 21, I woke up feeling awful.

There will be a spaghetti supper cancer benefit for Ron Herbote from 4-8 p.m. Feb. 23 at the Waterfall Inn on Hwy. 371 N. Live rock and roll music by the SKATYRS will be from 6-8 p.m. There will also be a silent auction and drawings.

Peter Johnson was elected to a second term as Exalted Ruler of Brainerd Elks Lodge No. 615 at its recent installation of officers. Newly elected officers serving with Johnson are Dale Swenson and Gary Scheeler. New Lodge Trustee is Dave Smith and Ron Bower was re-elected.

By TERRY MIKELSON

A holiday gathering is being investigated to find out why 31 people became ill after a luncheon in Brainerd.