Free class offered about essential oils

Registered nurse Mary Ann Soll will teach a class on doTerra essential oils this week and next week at Common Grounds in Molly’s Lane downtown.

The program, “Now that I have essential oils, what do I do with them?” starts at 6 p.m. on two Tuesdays, March 20 and 27.

For more information, call 812-345-5256 for more information.

Solar energy seminar planned at the library

South Central Indiana REMC will present a seminar about solar energy from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 21 at the Brown County Public Library.

The free event will include information about solar panels, pricing, design, efficiency and their relationship to the power cooperative. Existing renewable energy from SCI-REMC also will be covered.

To RSVP, email Energy Services Manager Rick McKinney at [email protected].

Local wildlife specialist to speak at Lake Monroe

BLOOMINGTON — DNR Wildlife Specialist Rex Watters will talk about resource management in the Lake Monroe Watershed from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 22.

The meeting of Friends of Lake Monroe will be in Room 1C of the Monroe County Public Library, 303 E Kirkwood Ave. The organization is devoted to protecting and sustaining water quality in Lake Monroe and its watershed. Meetings will be every other month this year.

DSI benefit will include local winery, distillery

COLUMBUS — Bear Wallow Distillery and Brown County Winery will be among the 24 Hoosier wine, beer and distillery vendors offering free samples and product for sale at the 10th annual D-Vine Wine & Beer Fest Saturday, March 24.

Ticketholders ages 21 and older can sample alcoholic drinks from 1 to 7 p.m. in the Commons downtown. Snacks will be sold. Participants also will get a wine or beer glass, and chances to win door prizes and hourly 50-50 drawings.

Tickets can be purchased for $20 plus a processing fee online at dsiservices.org, or at Developmental Services Inc., 2920 10th St. Tickets will cost $25 at the door.

All proceeds will benefit individuals with disabilities served by DSI.

Spaghetti dinner to aid high school band

The Brown County High School Band will serve a spaghetti dinner fundraiser at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 24 at the high school.

The menu includes salad, bread, choice of meat or vegetarian sauce with pasta, and cheesecake for dessert.

A silent auction will take place during dinner and students will perform during the course of the evening, with the Jazz Band headlining at the end of the night.

Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students at the door; before the event, tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for students, and children 6 and younger are free. Tickets can be purchased from the high school band office, band students, or at the high school main office.

Dance barn now open on Saturdays

Mike’s Dance Barn, 2277 State Road 46 West, is now open on Saturdays through April.

A cover charge of $8 until 9 p.m. includes dance lessons at 6:30 p.m. and Mike’s house band performing at 7:30 p.m. Food can be purchased from the kitchen.

A dance review with Billy and Carla is planned from 6:30 to 9 p.m. March 31 and April 21.

Dance lessons for $6 are available Mondays from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

For more information, call the dance barn at 812-988-8636.

Celebrate Tolkien works at public library

The Brown County Public Library will celebrate the works of J.R.R. Tolkien Sunday, March 25 with tea, readings, recordings, crafts, activities and door prizes. Middle-Earth dress is optional. Activities, all free, last from 2 to 4 p.m.

Tolkien is the author of classics “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings.”

The Brown County Public Library is at 205 Locust Lane. For more information, call 812-988-2850.

Alzeheimer’s education, dementia support offered

COLUMBUS — The Alzheimer’s Association Greater Indiana Chapter will provide a free education program Monday afternoon, March 26 at First Lutheran Church, 3600 E. 25th St.

“The Basics: Memory Loss, Dementia & Alzheimer’s Disease” will cover detection, causes and risk factors, stages of the disease, treatment and more.

There are no fees to attend the program, but registration is requested by calling the Alzheimer’s Association at 800-272-3900. For a full listing of education programs, visit alz.org/Indiana.

Food managers certification class offered

Beginning at 8:30 a.m. Monday and Tuesday, March 27 and 28, a food manager certification class will be taught in the second-floor Salmon Room of the County Office Building, 201 N. Locust Lane. The Monday session will end at 12:30 p.m. and the Tuesday session will finish at 2:30 p.m.

All businesses serving food, except nonprofits, are required to have a certified food manager on staff. Certification is good for five years.

The class costs $125, which includes the book and test. The book should be picked up at the health department to study in advance. To take the test only, the cost is $50.

For more information, reservations or to pick up the book, call the health department at 812-988-2255 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. weekdays.

Learn about locals involved in Mexican-American War

Local resident Rick Kelley will talk about Brown County residents involved in the Mexican-American War when genealogy life-stories group Family Histories and Mysteries meets at the Brown County Public Library on March 28.

The meeting, from 1 to 3:30 p.m. the last Wednesday of each month, is free and open to the public.

For more information, call the library at 812-988-2850.

Sign up for annual conservation meeting

Get a close-up look at what is living in the soil from speaker Cara Bergschneider at the Brown County Soil and Water Conservation District annual meeting Wednesday, March 28 at the Brown County History Center.

The meeting agenda also will include election of the supervisor, Natural Resources Conservation Service District updates, door prizes and dinner at 6 p.m. before the meeting. The meal will include homemade soups and breads, drinks and desserts.

Tickets are $5 if purchased by the close of business Friday, March 23; or $8 at the door. To RSVP, stop by the SWCD office, 802 Memorial Drive at the fairgrounds, call 812-988-2211 or email [email protected].

Recycle center cuts Saturday drive-through service

Beginning Saturday, March 30, the Brown County Recycle Center will no longer have Saturday morning drive-through service.

Drive-through hours will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays only.

All prior scheduled special events — such as electronics and tires recycling, shredding services and DEA Drug takeback — will remain the same on Saturday mornings.

Raptors to teach about hazards of littering

Keep Brown County Beautiful and the Indiana Raptor Center will offer a free program at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 5 at the Brown County Public Library.

Keep Brown County Beautiful works to educate the community about roadside litter and recycling. The Indiana Raptor Center will explain why litter is not only something we do not like to see, but it is a hazard to wildlife.

The IRC rehabilitates injured and orphaned birds of prey. Three ambassador birds will be present. Staff will talk about how they hunt and care for their young, and how litter environmental hazards affect their life cycle, which also affects natural rodent control.

Children are welcome. A free child’s education book will be given away in a drawing.

For more information, call 812-327-9617.

Horse farm to host women’s event April 7

BARGERSVILLE — Brown County-based Hope for Hearts Horse Farm will host its sixth annual Women’s Extravaganza from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 7 at the Sycamore of Mallow Run, 7070 W. Whiteland Road.

For a $5 entry fee at the door, moms, sisters, daughters and girlfriends are welcome for a day of spa, shopping and salsa. Shop with unique boutiques and vendors; enjoy free haircuts, styles, manicures, massages and makeovers; try chips and a variety of salsas.

Swag bags will be given to the first 500 women. Other activities include a silent auction, Hug-a-Horse, make it/take it crafts, Jivys BBQ and wine tasting by Mallow Run Winery.

All proceeds go to Hope for Hearts Horse Farm Inc. to support its programs. For more information, visit hopeforheartsfarm.org, call 317-496-0189 or email [email protected].

Library hosts programs on ‘Frankenstein’

The Brown County Public Library will present three programs in April to celebrate this year’s Brown County Reads book: “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelly.

Brown County Reads is designed to bring the community together for a discussion about a common book. Copies of the book can be checked out at the library.

• Thursday, April 12: 7 p.m., “Crimes Against Humanity? Where Does the Gavel Fall for Morality in Science in ‘Frankenstein,'” a mock trial, with audience members acting as jurors at the end of the presentation.
• Wednesday, April 18: 7 p.m., book discussion, light refreshments served.
• Saturday, April 28: 2 to 4 p.m., “monster crafts” and “it’s alive” science experiments for the family.

For more information, call the library at 812-988-2850.

Local poets to speak during National Poetry Month

Brown County poets Andrew Hubbard, Carol Marks and John Sisson will host a poetry reading and conversation about poetry in April, National Poetry Month, at the Brown County Public Library.

A program form 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 15 will include question-and-answer time; and people from the community are also invited to bring a poem of their own to read to the group.

Meet in the lower level meeting rooms at the library.

For more information, call the library at 812-988-2850.

Annual Soup Bowl will benefit local food pantry

The annual Soup Bowl to benefit Mother’s Cupboard Community Kitchen will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, April 15 at The Seasons Conference Center.

For $25 per ticket, participants choose a bowl made by local potters and sample soups from various restaurants in town. Tickets for soup in a disposable bowl are $5 per child. A silent auction also raises money during the event.

For more information, call 812-320-3530.

Register now for May Spring Blossom Parade

Spring Blossom Parade day 2018 will be Saturday, May 5 in downtown Nashville. The theme will be Unity in Diversity, to celebrate “who we are as unique individuals and citizens as we come together around shared values.”

All organizations can participate in the event, sponsored by the Brown County Lions Club. While there is no entry fee to be in the parade, signed waiver forms are required from all who will be in the parade. The registration deadline is Monday, April 16.

To be judged, entries must be pre-registered. A confirmation with information will be sent after receipt of each organization’s registration form. Forms are available at the Brown County Purdue Extension Office, Brown County Visitors Center, and online at e-clubhouse.org/sites/browncounty.

With questions about registration, contact Lion Gene Niednagel at [email protected] or at 812-988-6865.

After-school activities offered Tuesdays for teens

Brown County Enrichment for Teens Association, or BETA, offers after-school programs from 3 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays at the BETA Center, 45 S. Jefferson St.

Free, healthy snacks, games, arts and music programs are available to junior high, high school or home-schooled students. Drum lessons are taught from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. by Guy Knaus and free guitar lessons from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. by Nathan Dillon, director of Everybody Rocks.

BETA also offers free tutoring at the junior high from 3 to 4 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays with paraprofessional Sharon Snodgress, and at the high school before school and during hallway time Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays with National Honor Society students. Call Clara Stanley at 312-310-3617 with questions about tutoring.

For more information, call Guy Knaus at 812-671-5233.

Community band seeks new members of all ages

The Brown County Community Band practices from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursdays in the band room at Brown County High School. New members, young and old, are welcome.

The first concert this year will be the annual Habitat for Humanity concert May 12. The next will be the annual Sweetwater Homeowner’s Association concert June 23. All concert dates are Saturdays.

Talk to a lawyer for free at the library

The Brown County Public Library will host free, short, legal consultations between 3 and 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 3.

Local attorneys will volunteer their time to help with legal questions on a first-come, first-served basis. The program is sponsored by Legal Aid District 11.

For those who speak Spanish, a helpline will also be available statewide during the same time at 1-800-266-2581.

For more information, call the library at 812-988-2850.

Basic computing class offered at the library

A free basic computing class will be taught from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 17 in the lower level of the Brown County Public Library.

Whether just starting with a new device or using your computer as a paperweight, this class will teach the ins and outs of basic computing.

With questions, stop in at the library, 205 Locust Lane, or call 812-988-2850.

Reserve for tea and history program at lodge

A lunch program on the history of Brown County will start at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 19 at The Seasons Lodge.

Brown County Historian Diana Biddle will be the speaker. Light soup, chicken salad and egg salad tea sandwiches, ham wraps, cheeses, vegetables, desserts and teas will be served. The cost to attend is $19.95.

To make a reservation, call 800-365-7327.

Writers conference planned at History Center

Guest speakers will talk about the business of writing, marketing yourself and your book, and writing for children at a conference in Nashville from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 21.

The conference at the History Center, 90 Gould St., costs $35, which includes snacks and drinks. Lunch is on your own downtown. The conference will end with a panel discussion.

For more information, email [email protected]. To register, use [email protected] for PayPal.

Free storm spotter training coming in April

The National Weather Service, partnering with Brown County Emergency Management, will conduct severe storm spotter training from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 24. The free training will be at the Brown County Ambulance Base, 53 State Road 46 East.

NWS meteorologist Dave Tucek will describe cloud patterns, radar signatures associated with severe weather, how to report severe storms and how to remain safe.

“Volunteers observing and reporting severe weather, then distributed by the NWS and local media, helps lead to increased response and safety of everyone in Brown County,” said Susan Armstrong, director of Brown County Emergency Management.

Friday farmers market returns May 4

BEAN BLOSSOM — The Friday farmers market at St. David’s Episcopal Church parking lot will resume on May 4. It will run through Aug. 31.

The market, at state roads 135 North and 45, provides a venue for local farmers to sell fresh produce and meat. It’s open from 4 to 7 p.m. weekly.

It also affords local artisans a place to display and sell handmade creations, and area musicians to showcase their talents. A booth is reserved each week for different nonprofits. The Children’s Garden and Playground offers customers and vendors a safe place for their children to play.

For more information, stop by the market on Fridays or call 812-988-1038.

Mother-Daughter tea time planned at Seasons

The Seasons Lodge’s Fireplace Lounge will host a mother-daughter tea on Thursday and Friday, May 17 and 18, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Dara Delong will present her handmade jewelry. Door prizes will be provided. The menu includes fresh strawberry soup, ham salad on a mini croissant, banana bread, tea sandwiches, white chocolate chips scones with Devonshire cream, rocky road brownies and other treats. The cost is $19.95 per person.

For more information, visit seasonslodge.com or call 800-365-7327.

Bluebird nest boxes for sale this spring

The Brown County Bluebird Club is selling cedar bluebird nest boxes for $15 each or two for $25 to raise money for the club. Email Dan Sparks at [email protected] or call 812-200-5700.

Book-a-Librarian service offered

Individuals or small groups can make an appointment with a Brown County Public Library librarian through the free Book-a-Librarian service. Sessions are limited to 30 to 60 minutes and are best used for instruction on how to use the library catalog, databases, digital resources and the Internet. Call 812-988-2850 for an appointment.