Donate blood in March for Red Cross Month
From 2 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 15, blood donations will be accepted at Parkview Church of the Nazarene, 1750 State Road 46 East.
Donors of all blood types, especially type O, are needed.
To make an appointment, download the free Red Cross blood donor app at redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
YMCA looking to set up lifeguard class
The Brown County YMCA is organizing a lifeguard education class for Friday, March 17.
Anyone who’s a daily lap swimmer can get certified as a lifeguard and swim laps for free, the Y says.
For more information, stop by the front desk at the Y on Willow Street or call 812-988-9622.
Conservation district meeting set at History Center
The Brown County Soil and Water Conservation District will host its annual meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 15 at the Brown County History Center, 90 E. Gould St.
The event is open to the public and will feature guest speaker Dr. John Foster addressing “The Art of Pollinators.” Food, district updates and door prizes will be included.
Tickets are $5 before the date or $8 at the door. For more information or tickets, call 812-988-2211.
Jackson Fire to host community yard sale
HELMSBURG — From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 18, Jackson Township Fire Department, 4831 Helmsburg Road, will host a community yard sale.
A booth is $20 for a 5- by 10-foot space. A table is not included.
Biscuits and gravy, hot dogs, chips, soda and coffee will be sold.
To reserve a booth space, call Cathy at 317-532-7536.
RSVP for annual Ag Day breakfast
The Brown County Purdue Extension and the Brown County Soil & Water Conservation District will serve a free biscuits-and-gravy Ag Day breakfast at 8 a.m. Tuesday, March 21 at the exhibit building, 802 Memorial Drive at the fairgrounds.
Liz and Nate Brownlee of Nightfall Farm will be guest speakers. They’ll discuss Shiitake mushrooms and “diversifying the farm.”
To RSVP, email [email protected] or call 812-988-2211.
Computer basics class series offered at library
From 2 to 3:30 p.m. Thursdays, March 23 and 30, beginning adult computer classes will be offered at the Brown County Public Library, 205 N. Locust Lane.
Different topics taught each day include parts of the computer, signing up for e-mail, creating a document, safe online searching tips and library resources. The class series is limited to six participants.
To register, stop by or call the library at 812-988-2850.
Family Heritage Day to happen at History Center
“Township settlement” is the theme for Family Heritage Day at the Brown County History Center Saturday, March 25.
The free event, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. will include family displays, books on Brown County, a research area with helpers, representatives from surrounding counties, veterans and the Indiana Genealogical Society.
Family historians are welcome to bring in family scrapbooks and set up displays about ancestors. Those gathering histories on lost villages and towns of Brown County are also welcome.
To participate, attend or to reserve a table, call Rhonda at 812-320-6237 or Julia at 812-597-5636. For more information on the event, call Rhonda or Pauline at the History Center, 812-988-2899.
Celebrate Tolkien Reading Day at the library
Tolkien Reading Day will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 25 at the Brown County Public Library.
The Tolkien Society organized the event in 2003 to celebrate and promote the life and works of J.R.R. Tolkien, author of “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy. More information on the society can be found at tolkiensociety.org.
Participants can listen to an audio recording of Christopher Tolkien reading “Of Beren and Luthien.” Bring favorite passages to read, or just come to listen and enjoy an English-style afternoon tea.
For information, call the library at 812-988-2850.
Storm spotter training offered in March
COLUMBUS — At 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 28, Bartholomew County Emergency Management will offer a free weather spotter class in the Learning Center auditorium, 4555 Central Ave.
The National Weather Service relies on trained volunteers to supplement radar information during a severe storm or tornado event. Open to the public with no prior registration required, the NWS class will provide information about severe thunderstorm development, identification of important features, safety tips and more.
For more information, email [email protected] or call 812-379-1680.
History Day judges sought for spring contests
The Indiana Historical Society is calling for volunteer judges for the 2017 National History Day in Indiana contests.
Judges are needed for the South Central regional contest at Brown County High School in Nashville on Saturday, April 1; three other regional contests; and state competition at Ivy Tech’s campus downtown in Indianapolis May 6.
More than 5,400 students are expected to participate, creating documentaries, exhibits, papers, performances and websites. “Taking a Stand in History” is this year’s theme.
Volunteer judges will work in teams to evaluate projects, interview students and rank winners. Regional winners will advance to state. The top two entries from each junior and senior category at state are eligible to compete in The Kenneth E. Behring National History Day Contest in June at the University of Maryland.
Typically, NHDI judges have a background or interest in education, social studies or media. Teachers who volunteer as judges will be eligible for Professional Growth Points.
Sign up to judge at indianahistory.org/historyday. For more information, call 317-232-1882.
Purdue teaches food preservation basics
A workshop to learn the basics of canning and freezing fruits and vegetables will be offered from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, April 1 at the Brown County Purdue Extension office at the fairgrounds.
For more information or to register, call the extension office at 812-988-5495 or email [email protected] before Monday, March 27.
Victorian tea date set at art gallery
The Brown County Art Gallery will host its 23rd annual Victorian tea from 12:30 to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 9.
For $37, the event includes shopping and punch with local vendors at 12:30 p.m.; tea served at 2 p.m.; Debra Slone’s “Thoroughly Modern Addie” exploring women and the vote; favors; a raffle and door prizes.
For required reservations or more information, call the gallery at 812-988-4609.
Register now to be in Spring Blossom Parade
Registrations are being accepted until Saturday, April 15 for the Brown County Lions Club’s Spring Blossom Parade.
The parade will go through downtown Nashville Saturday, May 6 starting at 11 a.m.
The theme, “Reaching for the Stars,” recognizes the 40th anniversary of the first “Star Wars” movie.
There is no entry fee to be in the parade. Registration and waivers are available at the Purdue Extension Office, Brown County Visitors Center and online at e-clubhouse.org/sites/browncounty. Signed waivers will be required from all who will be marching or riding in the parade.
With questions, contact Lion Gene Niednagel at 988-6865 or [email protected].
Practical history sessions for children planned
The Brown County Historical Society’s children’s program, Hands On History, will return this spring, summer and fall.
It will be offered from 1 to 4 p.m. Thursdays, April 20, May 18, June 15, July 20, Aug. 17, Sept. 14 and Oct. 19. Programs are geared for ages 8 to 12. Registration is required and the fee is $5 per child, per program.
Topics will vary each session. They include pioneer gardens, nature study, early transportation, Native Americans of Brown County, pioneer household chores, one-room school days and harvest.
To volunteer to help with the program, call Kathy Sparks at 812-988-2377 or email [email protected].
To register online, visit browncountyhistorycenter.org.
Great American clean-up slated in April
From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 22, the local affiliate of Keep America Beautiful will host a Great American Clean-Up at the Village Green Pavilion at Main and Jefferson streets.
It includes live music and free food for volunteers.
Participants can register at 9 a.m. to pick up litter, prepare flower beds, plant, paint curbs or receive another assigned job, rain or shine.
Keep Brown County Beautiful focuses on recycling, reducing litter, beautifying and educating, to improve the quality of life for residents and visitors of Brown County.
To RSVP for the clean-up, email [email protected]. For more information, call Allison Shoaf at 812-988-2211.
Health Department offers CPR/AED training
The Brown County Health Department is offering training for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of an automated external defibrillator. The training is not for businesses.
The class will start at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 28 in the lower-level meeting room of the County Office Building, 201 Locust Lane. It costs $7, which pays for the certification card.
Class size is limited to six; call 812-988-5483 for availability.
Historical society 60th anniversary recognized
The Brown County Historical Society will celebrate its 60th anniversary from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 30, with music, refreshments and tours of the Pioneer Village.
The event, at the History Center, 90 E. Gould St., is free and open to the public.
Andy Rogers, the only surviving founding member of the society, will be honored at 2:30 p.m. in the Grand Hall.
Hamilton Creek Bluegrass Band, Zelton Kay on his dulcimer and the Salt Creek String Band will perform. Members of the Brown County Radio Hour will give tours of the recording studio and set appointments for those who would like to record family histories.
The Pioneer Village and Owl Creek Schoolhouse also will open for the season.
For more information, visit browncountyhistorycenter.org or call 812-988-2899.
‘Healing Day’ planned in May
From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 13, Laughing Womyn Ashonosheni will host a free “Healing Day” at Owl’s Nest on Owl Creek Road.
No appointments will be scheduled and no session fees charged.
Shamanic healing, crystals, gemstones, chakra clearing, ritual action, releasing karma, past-life clearing and other methods are used. Healers and emerging healers are also welcome to participate and learn.
For more information, visit laughingwomyn.com/events.html or call 812-988-2149.
