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GEP announces auditions for ‘Nuncrackers’The Green Earth Players have set auditions for their next play, "Nuncrackers."Audition times are 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 29 and 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 30. The cast for the play includes five women, one man and four students, age 13 and older.The tryouts are in the Green Earth Players building, 1/2 block east of Ace Hardware.The latest in the "Nunsense" series is a Christmas musical.The play will run at the Palace Theatre from Nov. 12 to 14 and 19 to 21.For more information, call 283-2765.Eighth annual crop walk scheduledThe Rock County Crop Walk Committee has set the date for their eighth annual event.This year’s event will take place on Sunday, Sept. 26.Registration is from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Rock County Highway Department building, with the walk beginning at 2 p.m.All of the money raised from the event will go to hunger programs through an outreach arm of Church World Services.Although the money raised helps fund programs all over the world, 25 percent will stay in Rock County for hunger programs.Some facts about hunger and poverty:
1.2 billion people live in poverty with incomes of $1 per day.
Six million children under the age of five die each year as a result of hunger.
One child in five in the U.S. lives in poverty.Tips for going to the state fairThe Minnesota State Fair starts today, Aug. 26, and runs through Labor Day, Sept. 6.Along with a wide variety of food on a stick, always a big attraction, a lot of new and creative merchandise is for sale at the fair.But, what if your new purchase doesn’t turn out to be the miracle device you were led to believe once you arrive home?The Better Business Bureau has a few suggestions you may want to think about before your state fair purchase.Prior to making a purchase, get the company’s refund and exchange policy in writing.Obtain the company’s physical location and telephone number, in case you need to return or exchange an item after the fair.As with any purchase, it makes sense to comparison shop. Keep in mind, however, that the least expensive item may not always be the best value.Don’t be pressured to buy. After the demonstration or sales pitch, walk away from the sales person to give yourself some time to think about the purchase. It will help you clearly consider whether or not the item is necessary and a good deal.It’s important to note that the Federal Trade Commission’s cooling-off rule, which normally allows consumers three days to cancel a purchase, does not apply to the following purchases at the state fair: purchases under $25; insurance, securities or real estate; motor vehicles and arts and crafts.State fair has major financial windfall for metro areaIn 2004, the Minnesota State Fair and its year-around operations will have an economic impact of more than $150 million for the Twin Cities area.Of that $150 million, almost $44 million is in the form of household earnings to employees of local concessionaires and exhibitors, hotels, restaurants, retail shops and state fair staff.The fair generates 5,500 jobs in the metro area and generates more than $4.5 million in tax revenue for state and local governments.Publisher Roger Tollefson can be reached by e-mail at tolly@star-herald.com