Spring is the season of new beginnings, and the seniors at Suring High School started the next phase of their lives on May 21. Suring was the first local school district to stage its commencement exercises for the Class of 2022.

Public libraries across Wisconsin are gearing up to offer summer reading programs for all ages. At Shawano County Library, the program begins June 1 and runs through Aug. 6. The children’s program is for ages 0 through fifth grade, the teen program is for sixth through 12th grades and the adult program for those aged 18 and older.

Shawano Area Writers held its meeting April 21 in the Veslak room at the Shawano Public Library.

Karen Prueter was recently named the 2022 American Legion Auxiliary Member of the Year for Wabeno Sylvan American Legion Auxiliary Unit 44. Since 2007, Prueter has been very active in the auxiliary and was elected auxiliary president in 2014.

Youth sparks are an essential ingredient of thriving in the 4-H world. Having a spark gives a young person a sense of direction and encourages goal setting. Nineteen Shawano 4-H members exhibited their sparks around food preparation and presentation at the 2022 Foods Revue, held May 14 at the Richmond Town Hall. Youth exhibited a prepared food with a completed place setting for critique from local judges.

A new trail was completed and opened at the Navarino Nature Center on May 19. With Shawano Pathways, ThedaCare and other community partners, the nature center opened a GRACE trail for visitors to walk and reflect on the things that are most important to them. GRACE stands for Grateful, Release, Acceptance, Challenge and Embrace. Along the mile-long trail, there are five checkpoints, each representing one letter of the word GRACE.