To celebrate National Emergency Medical Services Week May 20-26, EMS staff from Albert Lea Medical Center will host special activities Saturday, May 18, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Northbridge Mall.

The public is invited to tour an ambulance and meet the crews. Free blood pressure checks, EMS literature, gifts, and door prizes will be available. In conjunction with LakeView Lions Club and the Lions Foundation, bike helmets will be sold for $5 each, beginning at 10 a.m. until gone.

Also offered will be CPR demonstrations and an opportunity to sign up for CPR classes.

Following is a roundup of other events in the area happening this weekend.

Friday, May 17

– The Shades of Jade Regional Garden Club will hold a plant and bulb sale at Northbridge Mall from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

– The Church Women United Scholarship Salad Luncheon will be held from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church with Trinity Lutheran Church co-hosting. Tickets are $4 and may be purchased at the door.

– The Sweere family art show continues at the Albert Lea Art Center from noon-4 p.m. There is no charge to attend, but freewill donations will be accepted to help defray Art Center expenses.

– Hawthorne Elementary School presents its 50th Anniversary Celebration – Family Picnic from 3-8 p.m.

Events include:

open house for former/retired teachers and families,

food sales, music and a magician. For more information,

call Hawthorne School at 379-4960.

– The public is invited to attend a fundraising Sloppy Joe supper for Freeborn County Sheriff candidate Phil Bartusek at Marion Hall at St. Theodore’s Catholic Church from 5-7 p.m. A free will donation will be accepted.

– The Albert Lea Community Theatre production of &uot;Morning’s At Seven&uot; continues at the Albert Lea Civic Theatre. Curtain time is 7:30 p.m. For tickets, call the box office at 377-4371.

Saturday, May 18

– The Shades of Jade Regional Garden Club will hold a plant and bulb sale at Northbridge Mall from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

– Lou-Rich Inc., 505 W. Front St., will hold its 30th anniversary celebration from 8-11 a.m. The public is invited to take a tour of the plant and have refreshments.

– The Albert Lea Farmers Market will open at 9 a.m. in the parking lot at Broadway Avenue and Water Street.

– The Sweere family art show continues at the Albert Lea Art Center from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. There is no charge to attend, but freewill donations will be accepted to help defray Art Center expenses.

– The Albert Lea Skate Park will be open for in-line skaters and skateboarders from 1-4 p.m. and for bikers from 4-7 p.m.

– Dancers from the Joyce Matthies Dance Centre will present their 36th annual recital at 2 p.m. at Southwest Little Theater. Tickets will be available at the door.

– The Albert Lea Community Theatre production of &uot;Morning’s At Seven&uot; concludes at the Albert Lea Civic Theatre. Curtain time is 7:30 p.m. For tickets, call the box office at 377-4371.

Sunday, May 19

– A benefit for Doug Claussen will be held from 11 a.m. -3 p.m. at the Albert Lea Union Center. There will be a hog roast luncheon and bake sale during those hours, and a silent auction from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Cost for the luncheon is a freewill donation. A portion of the funds raised will be matched by Modern Woodmen of America; Aid Association for Lutherans Branches 2300, 4608, 4824 and 11184; and Lutheran Brotherhood Stateline Branch 8972. In addition, medical trust account donations can be sent to the Doug Claussen Trust, Security Bank, 437 Bridge Ave., Albert Lea. Claussen suffers from melanoma.

– The Hayward Boosters hold a fund-raising dinner for the Blazing Star Trail from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. They’ll be serving Nick’s home-cured ham with all the fixings plus dessert at two sites in town: Hayward Lutheran Church and the Town Hall. The fund-raiser will also feature a raffle for a couple of bicycles from Martin’s Cycling and Fitness and other items from area businesses. Tickets will be $10 for adults, $5 for kids 5 to 12. Kids under 5 eat free. They are available in advance from Hayward businesses, and Martin’s Cycling and Fitness and Heart of the Artichoke in Albert Lea. Or they can be purchased at the door. The first $500 will be matched by the LB Stateline Branch. All proceeds will be applied to Hayward’s portion of the grant.

– The Albert Lea Skate Park will be open from 1-4 p.m. for bikers and from 4-7 p.m. for in-line skaters and skateboarders.