On May 15, 2012, the Board of Directors of the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council, Inc. (SEMAC) awarded 23 grants for a total of $110,035 in funding to applicants throughout southeastern Minnesota.  This included seven Presenter/Production Assistance Grants for $20,275, six Small Towns/Rural Areas Grants for $15,900, and ten Arts & Cultural Heritage Grants for $73,860.  The latter funding is made possible by the Minnesota arts and cultural heritage fund as appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.

SEMAC is the State Arts Board-designated granting authority for local/regional arts producing and sponsoring organizations and disburses funds allocated for this purpose by the Minnesota State Legislature.  The SEMAC region includes the counties of Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, and Winona.

On Thursday, May 17, 2012, at 10:00 a.m., there will be a memorial service to honor  fallen law enforcement officers from Southeast Minnesota.  It will be an outdoor service at the Soldiers Field Memorial. The service will be held rain or shine, but could be cancelled in the event of severe weather.  There will be no makeup date.

Services will be held to recognize the sacrifices of Rochester Police Officers Lloyd Feind, Floyd Haley, Eugene Sutton, Rochester Reserve Officer William Freytag, Olmsted County Deputy Jack Werner, former Rochester native and U.S. Customs Agent Gary Friedli, as well as other fallen officers from the South Eastern region of the state.  This year marks the 35th year anniversary (to the day) of the death of Olmsted County Deputy Jack Werner.

This year marks the sixth year of Thursdays on first & 3rd Summer Market and Music Festival being branded as such, however a smaller scale market actually began two years prior from passionate volunteers and community members.  Thursdays on first & 3rd has become a truly authentic community gathering place with a variety of live music featured on two stages, a tasteful spread of outdoor food choices and a vibrant mix of market vendors showcasing art, craft and baked goods products.  Thursdays on first & 3rd begins June 7th and runs every Thursday through August 30th.