Listen to the beautiful strings of the harp at the Cloquet Public Library

Come to the Cloquet Public Library at 1 p.m., Thurs., July 12, and hear the dreamy harp music of Mary Hagen. The event, which is part of the children's schedule of programming this summer, is free of charge and open to the public. Imagine yourself deep in the green woods with fairies slipping out of their hiding spots to join you in a dance, says Mary. Or envision sitting in the great hall of a castle hearing the music of a poet playing a wire-strung harp, its sounds shimmering through the room. Close your eyes and let yourself dream of times past while listening to the music of the Celtic harp. We will hear fairy dances, lullabies, and contemplative melodies from Ireland and Scotland during our time together.

Y.A. Author's Spooky Novel

"A long, dark driveway towards an old farmhouse. A new stepsister with a nasty streak. A little sister who runs off. Something sinister lurking in the woods. Cassie Quinn's new home comes with . . . complications. Cassie never believed in ghosts before. But now she is receiving strange messages, telling her to stay out of the woods. Are the messages just a ploy by her stepsister? Or are they warning her of an evil that stalks the shadows of the woods beyond her home?" Young adult author Kathryn Knutson will talk about her experience living in a haunted house and writing her novel "The Possession of Cassie Quinn," which was recently published by NorthStar Press of St. Cloud. Friday, June 29, at 1 p.m.

FAMILY COMEDIAN KENNY AHERN COMES TO CLOQUET LIBRARY

Cloquet Public Library, along with The Arrowhead Library System (ALS) invites you to a high-energy, hilarious comedy act by Kenny Ahern at 1 p.m., Mon., June 18. Kenny Ahern presents a comedy act unlike any other. With props, sound, and brilliant acting, this world-class entertainer will have you laughing in delight at his heart-warming antics. This show is free of charge and appropriate for audiences of all ages. Kenny Ahern has successfully toured the planet for over 25 years. He has been featured on television in three CBS specials with Ringling Brothers Circus, as a guest on CMT’s Most Wanted Live, MTV, The Family Channel’s Funniest Videos, Good Morning America, The Today Show, on the radio as a guest on What D’Ya Know with Michael Feldman, and numerous regional promotional interviews across the U.S. He is the co-host of the video Circus Works! Circus Arts curriculum for Educators, and is in the film Da Vinci’s Dream. Admission to the event is free thanks to sponsorship by the Arrowhead Library System Kids Stuff Program and your local library. For more information, call 879-1531.

Understand Your Dreams

A workshop on dream analysis, "Understanding the Dreams You Dream," with author Craig Groethe, will be held in the large meeting room on Monday, June 11, at 10:30 a.m. This will be a fun, interactive, and enlightening class. With an overview of the types of dreams, their significance, and the symbolic language of dreams, participants will learn how to glean insight from their own dreams. The program is intended for both teen and adult audiences. / Groethe is the author of the book "Sleeping with Your Eyes Open—Warning Dreams." He hosted a radio show called "Talk About A Dream" and has spoken across the Midwest. Read more information about dreams on his website: www.dreamclassguy.com. The workshop is free thanks to sponsorship by the Arrowhead Library System and money from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

"The Devil's Double": Iraq Under Saddam Hussein

"The Devil's Double." Based on actual events, this film recounts the remarkable story of Latif Yahia, an Iraqi army lieutenant summoned to Saddam Hussein's palace in 1987 and ordered to become the "fiday," or body double, of Hussein's notorious son Uday. Though many of his fellow Iraquis would have considered this a great honor, for Latif it was the beginning of a hellish nightmare. Under the constant threat of harm to his family, Latif had no choice but to play the role of silent witness while Uday indulged in brutal and depraved activities with no regard for human life. Dominic Cooper brilliantly delineates the characters of two entirely dissimilar men—the psychotic Uday Hussein and the conscience-stricken Latif. The film is graphic and intended for mature audiences. The screening is part of our ongoing International Film Series. Tuesday, June 12, 6:30 p.m.

Vikings in the Attic: In Search of Nordic America

2012 Minnesota Book Award nominated author Eric Dregni will talk about the Scandinavian-American experience at Encore! Performing Arts Center on Saturday, June 9, at 1 p.m. Dregni is best known for his humorous take on being Scandinavian in Minnesota. He and his wife spent a year living in Norway, and the result was his 2008 book "In Cod We Trust." In "Vikings in the Attic: In Search of Nordic America" (University of Minnesota Press, 2011), Dregni examines the history of Scandinavian and Finnish immigration to the Unites States, especially to Minnesota and the Upper Midwest. Politics, religion, work, recreation, food, lifestyles, and becoming American—the Scandinavian-American experience is examined with an illuminating and frequently humorous perspective. The hardscrabble life and prejudice faced by the early immigrants is an oft-forgotten chapter in Scandinavian-American history, which Dregni documents poignantly. But there is plenty of room in his account for anecdotes about church dinners, jello salads, hotdishes, and the fact that everyone in heaven speaks Norwegian. A reception following Dregni's presentation will be hosted by the Sons of Norway-Heimsyn Lodge. Refreshments (including lefse) are being donated by Takk for Maten. Bergquist Imports is also donating to the event, which is free and open to the public. For questions, call the library at 879-1531 or Encore! Performing Arts at 878-0071. Encore! is located on the Frontage Road at 2035 Hwy 33 South (exit north of the I-35 ramp). Eric Dregni's appearance is sponsored by the Cloquet Public Library in association with the Minnesota Book Awards, with a grant from The Friends of the St. Paul Public Library.