As part of Fire Prevention Week, the Albert Lea Fire Department will open its doors Saturday afternoon for its annual open house.

Thursday, October 11, 2001

As part of Fire Prevention Week, the Albert Lea Fire Department will open its doors Saturday afternoon for its annual open house. It’s a chance to meet the firefighters and see the fire trucks up close.

In other area events this weekend:

Friday, Oct. 12

— Grace Lutheran Church, 918 Garfield Ave., Albert Lea, will host a salad luncheon from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Cost is $4. Hot barbecue sandwiches and many salads will be served. The event is sponsored by Grace Lutheran Church Women and Lutheran Brotherhood Branch 8482.

— St. Theodore Catholic Church will hold a fish fry from 5-6:30 p.m. in Marian Hall. Cost is $6 for adults and $3 for children under 12. Those under 3 eat free. The menu includes fish, baked or mashed potatoes, cole slaw, rolls, ice cream and topping.

Saturday, Oct. 13

— The Albert Lea Farmers’ Market opens in the Wal-Mart parking lot at 9 a.m. Fresh locally grown produce, baked goods and jams and jellies are available for sale.

— The 16th annual Alden Holiday Craft Fair will be held at the Alden-Conger School from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. A wide array of handcrafted items and gifts will be offered by over 30 crafters. Door prizes will be given away every half hour, morning coffee and rolls will be available and a noon meal will be served by the Alden Legion Auxiliary. The Alden-Conger FLA/FHA group will have free child care available and will also host a bake sale during the activity.

— Kids’ and adults’ annual pumpkin painting will take place from 9 a.m.-noon at the Albert Lea Art Center. Cost is $6 per pumpkin, and you get to take it home. Call the Art Center at 373-5665 for more information.

— The Humane Society of Freeborn County will host an adopt-a-pet event from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at Gayle’s Grooming and Pet Supplies, 917 S. Broadway. A variety of animals will be available.

— The Albert Lea Fire Department will hold an open house from 1-3 p.m. Visitors to the fire station will learn how to use a fire extinguisher, see people in the dark with a new fire department tool, and spray water from a hose at a target in the lake. It’s also a chance to meet the firefighters and see the fire trucks up close.

Sunday, Oct. 14

— The Albert Lea Masonic Lodge will hold an amaranth pancake breakfast from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Pancakes, eggs, sausage, coffee and milk will be served. Cost is $4 for adults and $2.50 for children under 10.

— St. John’s Auxiliary annual soup and sandwich luncheon will be held from 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. in the St. John’s Lutheran Home Chapel. It will be a free will donation luncheon. Proceeds will be matched up to $1160 by AAL Branches 1965 and 2300. Proceeds will be used for new carpet in the chapel.

— A benefit for Gerald Melcher will be held from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Walters Fire Hall. The event is to offer encouragement and freewill donation to help defray expenses as he recovers from recent heart surgery. A choice of chili, wild rice or vegetable beef soup, bread and crackers, coffee or milk and assorted bars will be served. There will be entertainment by the Melcher family. The event is sponsored by Aid Association for Lutherans Branch 6461.

— Northbridge Mall will host a Beautiful Baby Contest. Registration is at noon at the contest begins at 1:15 p.m.