Did You Hear?

Getting ready for St. Patty’s Day?March means St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner, or Thursday, the 17th to be exact.Katie Baustian has been making all the arrangements for this year’s event and recently announced this year’s royalty.Mike and Leola Sweeny will serve as this year’s Grand Marshall and Marshallette. (I must admit, I’m not sure Marshallette is a word.)Tim Jarchow will serve as this year’s King of Leprechauns and Sherri Kitchenmaster will be the Queen of Leprechauns.The Queen of St. Patrick’s Day will be Katie Kratesch and the Junior Royalty will be Caitria, Sean and Grace Sweeny.This year the Spotlight Dancers will perform an Irish jig during the parade, which starts at the Furniture House at 4 p.m.Everyone, whether Irish or not, is encouraged to participate.If you have any questions, contact Katie Baustian at 283-4180.Hospice sets date for annual banquetThis year’s Hospice Banquet will be held Friday, April 22, at the Blue Mound Banquet Center. The money raised each year is used to help offset the reimbursement shortfall that the organization incurs because of underfunding by Medicare and other payers.Last year’s event grossed over $50,000 and the group hopes to top that number this year.If you would like to donate, there are multiple ways you can do so:
Purchase a dinner ticket for $40, which also enters you in a raffle for a trip for two to Cancun. Airfare and hotel are included.
Sponsor a table. The $450 donation will get you eight tickets for your family, friends or business associates, a listing in the program and your name in the drawing for a 20-person backyard grill-out party.
Donate gift certificates or merchandise for the auctions.
If you have a business, you can advertise in the program.
Place a dedication in the program for someone special.
Buy raffle tickets for a handmade quilt.If you have any questions about the event, contact Helen Saum, who is serving as chairperson.Not too late to register for the ACTIf you are a college bound senior, the next testing date is Saturday, April 9.Although the original deadline to sign up was March 4, a late registration of March 18 is available for an additional fee.A new option on the ACT is a writing test. Some colleges now require writing scores from students entering college in the fall of 2006.Students entering college in the fall of 2006 should check with their school choice before deciding whether or not to register for the ACT writing test.Students can register for the test at the ACT’s Web site at www.actstudent.org.The Web site also features test tips, practice tests and a database for students to find out if a prospective college requires a writing score.Publisher Roger Tollefson can be reached by e-mail at tolly@star-herald.com