Marilyn Sellars to Sing for “Wear Purple for Maggie Lee Day” July 26

Marilyn Sellars, whose hit song “One Day at a Time” surpassed Elvis Presley on the country LP chart in 1974, will sing that song in honor of her friend Maggie Lee during a gathering at 5 p.m. in in Northfield on Thursday, July 26, during “Wear Purple for Maggie Lee Day.” Scott Richardson will also lead singing of “The Ballad of Maggie Lee” (to the tune of “Rawhide”) which he composed for Maggie Lee’s 90th birthday party at the last year. This event is the same day as the Crazy Daze Sidewalk Sales and rescheduled .

Maggie Lee, whose passion for purple and cats is well-known in our community, is now in , after a lifetime of devotion to her hometown as  editor, reporter and columnist for 68 years (her last column was June 9), a founder of the , tireless promoter of Cannon River beautification (now the Riverwalk) and 2009 winner of the Joseph Lee Heywood Award.

Sellars first met Maggie Lee when Lee wrote a story about Sellars and other pupils in a one-room country school outside of Dundas. Sellars says, “I was so proud when she used the photo of all of us for her article with my artwork in the background.” Lee then chronicled Sellars’ career, from musicals and being named “Miss Northfield” to singing and playing piano at the Ambassador Hotel in Golden Valley to her successful recording career which started in Nashville as “One Day at a Time” charted nationally for 43 weeks. Sellars has always valued Lee’s support and considers her “family.” 

is holding “Meows for Maggie” cat adoptions from 8 to 1:00 on July 26 at the Northfield News Building, 115 Fifth Street W. Purple catnip pillows will be given away and purple collars and cat leashes will be sold, with sponsorships of shelter cats available in Maggie’s name.

Cat-themed or purple attire is encouraged on July 26 and (314 Division St.) will provide free purple yarn for adornment. There is also a $2.00 workshop on Wed., July 25, with drop-in time between 11 and 1, to learn to make a purple flower pin of yarn with a flower loom to wear at the next day’s event.

Sellars is mulling over choices of purple from her wardrobe for her part in “Wear Purple for Maggie Lee Day.” She says, “I SO admire her service to the Northfield community. She’s truly ‘one of a kind’ --- of all the people I’ve been privileged to meet, I can’t think of one more deserving of our care and attention.”

For further information, contact Susan Hvistendahl at 507-650-0070, or susanhv@hotmail.com.