MSUM RECEIVES SINGLE LARGEST GIFT TO THE COLLEGE OF ARTS & HUMANITIES
MOORHEAD – Minnesota State University Moorhead has announced a $4.3 million gift to the university, the single largest gift to the College of Arts & Humanities and the third largest in the school’s history. The gift was inspired more than 50 years ago by the words and generosity of a faculty member.
Thomas von Bahr enrolled at Moorhead State College with no clear plan. But during his time at Moorhead State, he discovered a love of literature and music and a passion for learning. He developed enduring friendships with his teachers, including philosophy Professor Charlie Magel.
Charlie challenged his ambitious and hard-working student to someday leave a gift to the university — a gift even larger than he planned to bestow. Thomas promised to do so.
Thomas graduated in 1967 with a degree in English. He was a world traveler, scholar, business owner and community activist. Decades later, when Thomas learned he was dying of cancer, he reached out to MSUM to let us know he was making good on his promise to his friend and mentor.
“When I met Thomas in March of this year, he had already outlived his doctors’ prognosis by several months. He told me how much his time at Moorhead State had meant to him,” said MSUM President Anne Blackhurst. “He wanted to ensure that future students would have the same transformative experience as he did.”
They most certainly will. His generous gift will support scholarships for students majoring in the arts and humanities and fund the Tom and Adrienne Bahr Center for Humanities, named in honor of Thomas’ parents.
“The creation of the Tom and Adrienne von Bahr Center for Humanities will impact students for generations to come,” said Dean Earnest Lamb, College of Arts and Humanities. “Our college shares his passion for open-mindedness and critical thinking. His legacy will live on in the spirit of those ideals.”
MOORHEAD PUBLIC LIBRARY ANNOUNCES GENEALOGY WORKSHOP SERIES
MOORHEAD – The Moorhead Public Library has partnered with genealogist Les Bakke to offer a three-part Genealogy Workshop Series for those interested in exploring their family history. Topics covered will include how to get started, where to find more information about your family’s history and overviews of free library-provided tools that help genealogists research. The workshops will be held virtually with the option to view the presentation in-person at the library, which is located at 118 5th St. S.
Registration is required for those attending virtually and can be found at larl.org/familyhistoryseries. Les Bakke is an amateur genealogist with nearly 40 years experience as his family’s record keeper since the early 1980s. He has traced his Norwegian family tree back to the early eleventh century. The workshops are offered free-of-charge.
Basic Introduction to Family History Research
Wednesday, December 15 from 6-7 PM
In this session, Les Bakke will demonstrate how to get started on your family history research project, will share where to find information about your family’s history and will share tips for keeping track of your findings. (45-60 minutes)
Introduction to FamilySearch
Wednesday, January 19 from 6-7 PM
Genealogist Les Bakke will provide an overview of the library’s latest family history research tool, FamilySearch. FamilySearch is a free tool that helps millions of people around the world discover their heritage and connect with family members. (30-45 minutes)
Introduction to Ancestry.com
Wednesday, February 16 from 6-7 PM
Get started using Ancestry.com, a subscription based family history research website which is also available free-of-charge to users inside the Moorhead Public Library. This research tool provides a unique growing collection of research materials for tracing family history. (30-45 minutes)
MINNESOTA’S MEDICAL CANNABIS PROGRAM TO ADD EDIBLES AS NEW OPTION FOR PATIENTS
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has announced that it will approve infused edibles in the form of gummies and chews as a new medical cannabis delivery method in the state’s medical cannabis program.
The new delivery method will become effective Aug. 1, 2022. A rulemaking process that will outline requirements for labeling, safety messaging, packaging, and testing will launch this month. Current permitted delivery forms include pills, vapor oil, liquids, topicals, powdered mixtures, and orally dissolvable products, like lozenges.
“Expanding delivery methods to gummies and chews will mean more options for patients who cannot tolerate current available forms of medical cannabis,” said Minnesota Commissioner of Health Jan Malcolm.
Coming in March 2022, registered medical cannabis patients will also be eligible for dried raw, smokable cannabis, which was approved by the 2021 Minnesota Legislature. Rulemaking for dried raw cannabis is also currently in process.