Iowa Lakes Community College is hoping to grow a program its recently started for English language learners at the Spencer campus. Every Wednesday from 9-10 a.m., English as a Second Language students and volunteers sit outside McCreary’s at the Dock and practice conversational English.

The city of Spencer will be having some vacancies in its city government. Ward 2 City Councilman Bill Orrison and Finance Director/Deputy City Manger Brian Weuve will have left their Spencer offices by the end of August, leaving two empty chairs at City Hall.

ARNOLDS PARK — Songwriters Showcase, a concert series presented by the Iowa Rock ‘n Roll Music Association, will feature the driving surf guitar sounds of The Surf Zombies, 2017 Spirit Award winners, on Friday, July 14, at 7:30 p.m., at the Preservation Plaza lakeside patio, in Arnolds Park.

OKOBOJI — Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike opens July 18 at the Okoboji Summer Theatre. Written by Chirstopher Durang, this quietly poignant comedy runs through Sunday, July 23. Newcomer Jim Bray directs a cast of Stephens College Conservatory students, fellows, and professional guest artists, including newcomers Adam Lewis and Mollie Craven.

OKOBOJI — Dylan Short, a recent Iowa Lakes Community College graduate, attended the 2023 Okoboji Entrepreneurial Institute, a weeklong experience focused on entrepreneurship and teamwork.

• DES MOINES — The following local students graduated from Drake University at the end of the spring 2023 semester.

OKOBOJI — Join the Spirit of Harmony Chorus as they present pre-show entertainment at 7:30 p.m., Friday, July 21, before the Okoboji Summer Theatre production of “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike.” The OST Wine and Beer Bar will be open under the awning for listening to the music of these regional first place competition winners from this past spring.

The Spencer Chamber Ambassadors received business updates this week from Pine Tree Plaza owner Bill Muller. The parking lot has been completely repaved and a new roof is being installed as tenants fill in the retail spaces around TJ Maxx. (Photo submitted)

DES MOINES — The Iowa Association of Business and Industry is hosting its annual Executive Forum this summer, Aug. 3-4. The event focuses on high-value programming for top executives. It is one of ABI’s fastest-growing events, with an anticipated record attendance for 2023.

Community members were welcomed into the Parker Museum for its July open house on Sunday. Typically only open by appointment, the Parker Museum, located at 300 E. Third St. in Spencer, showcases life in Iowa from the eyes of the James E. Parker family. Guests travel 100 years back in time by visiting 1916 home that houses memories of rural Iowa, including an agricultural collection and a Blacksmith shop.

The Clay County Fairgrounds was packed with barbecue teams participating in the first annual Art of the Que festival Friday and Saturday. Hosted by Arts on Grand with the Clay County Fair and Spencer Radio Group, the barbecue contest brought in approximately $2,200 for the local art gallery.

Spencer Public Library has been selected as one of 240 libraries to participate in Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities, an American Library Association initiative that provides community engagement and accessibility resources to small and rural libraries to help them better serve people with disabilities.

The competitive award comes with a $10,000 grant that will help the library better serve those in our community with disabilities.

University of Iowa Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center and Abben Cancer Center of Spencer Hospital have announced a partnership to support medical oncology cancer care in northwest Iowa.

A ceramic exhibit from Storm Lake artist Ron Netten is coming to Arts on Grand this week. The opening reception for Netten’s exhibit will be held at the gallery Thursday from 4-6 p.m.

“His works are well known in the Midwest, including in Spencer,” said Christina Muggenberg, gallery manager at Arts on Grand.

The Summer Reading Program at the Spencer Public Library is still going strong and has a new activity for families to participate in. Two language learning classes for adults with babies or toddlers will be offered at the library on July 11 and 18 at 6 p.m.