Multiple events canceled or restricting attendance

Published 9:13 pm Thursday, March 12, 2020

Schedules for local and regional events are ever changing as precautions are being taken to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Sunday’s Albert Lea Healthcare Coalition meeting at American Legion Post 56 has been canceled.

The streaming of the Metropolitan Opera’s performance of Richard Wagner’s “The Flying Dutchman” on Saturday at Marion Ross Performing Arts Center has also been canceled.

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Thorne Crest Senior Living Community is closing Gary Schindler’s historic lecture series to the general public for the lecture scheduled today at the facility, according to a press release, and will reassess closer to the April and May lectures and advise the public as to whether those will be open events.

There will be no Freeborn County Republican convention on Saturday, as the Minnesota state Republican Party has postponed all conventions. Rescheduling will begin after April 15, depending on the virus situation.

University of Minnesota Extension will cancel its in-person programs statewide beginning Monday.

The cancellation is effective through March 31 and extension leaders will re-evaluate plans for future programs at that time. The extension announcement applies to all in-person programs and meetings, whether they are offered on a county, regional or statewide basis. Extension’s online programs will take place as scheduled and some in-person events may be moved online.

Extension is the research, outreach and education arm of the university. Earlier this week, the university announced that for-credit coursework on all five University of Minnesota campuses will be delivered through alternative instruction beginning next week.

The extension cancellation includes a variety of areas including:

• Minnesota 4-H and related youth development programs

• Extension master gardeners and extension master naturalists

• Nutrition programs offered via SNAP-Ed, the expanded food and nutrition education program and cooking matters.

• Educational workshops and programs in agriculture, natural resources, food safety, and  community vitality and development

• Programs conducted through the regional sustainable development partnerships.

The extension’s county, regional and statewide offices remain open and employees will be at work, a press release stated.