WELCOME — Hope you are not worried about today since it is Friday the 13th. Just another day. But, tomorrow is Valentine’s Day. Let your sweetheart know you love them.

The cribbage tournaments will be on Friday, Feb. 14 and next Saturday, Feb. 21 at the Welcome Legion Hall beginning with registration at 1:15 p.m. All cribbage players are welcome to join the fun.

Presidents’ Day is Monday, Feb. 16. There will be no school at Martin County West Schools, some businesses are closed and no mail that day.

Lake Promenaders square dance group will meet at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 15, at 804 West First Street in Welcome. Dancers and watchers are welcome to join them.

The Ruby’s Pantry grocery distribution will be from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 16, at the parking lot of the Regional Worship Center in Sherburn. $25 will get a trunk full of groceries. There are no income or residential guidelines.

An annular solar eclipse will be on Tuesday, Feb. 17.

The Welcome City Council will meet at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 17, at City Hall. There is always a time for public comments and questions at the beginning of each meeting. To be on the regular agenda, please contact the City Hall prior to the meeting at (507) 728-8740. The MCW School Board will meet at 6 p.m. with a hearing at 5:30 p.m. and the Sherburn City Council meets at 5 p.m.

The CREST Lunch and Learn program about eyesight will be presented at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 18 at the First Lutheran Church in Trimont, followed by a lunch. These programs are free to the senior citizens in Martin County. CREST appreciates a free-will donation.

Ash Wednesday is Feb. 18, which is the beginning of the Lenten Season and area churches have special services planned. The Circle of Faith Parishes will meet at 7 p.m. on Trinity Lutheran Church in Welcome. St. John’s Lutheran in Sherburn will have a 6 p.m. service with a potato bake supper after the service served by the youth group. Their partner church, St. Paul’s Lutheran in Wilbert will have a 7:30 p.m. service followed by a cooperative lunch. St. Luke’s Catholic Church in Sherburn will have an Ash Wednesday service at 8:30 a.m. Their partner churches will have evening services at 5:30 p.m. at Good Shepherd in Jackson and at 6:45 p.m. at St. Joseph in Lakefield. Area residents are welcome to join any of these congregations for services.

There is a critical shortage of blood now so donating at area American Red Cross blood drives is needed. Blood drives are on Feb. 20 at the American Legion in Fairmont, Feb. 23 at the St. Paul’s Community Church in Welcome and Feb. 24 at Grace Lutheran Church in Fairmont. Call 800-RED-CROSS (800-733-2767), visit www.redcrossblood.org or text BLOODAPP to 90999. Make an appointment and do the RapidPass on the day of your donation to shorten the registration time. Thank you.