Free class offered about essential oils

Registered nurse Mary Ann Soll will teach a class on doTerra essential oils this week in lower-level meeting room C at the Brown County Public Library. The program, “Now that I have essential oils, what do I do with them?” starts at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 27.

For more information, call 812-345-5256.

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 $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].

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.

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.

Maple ‘Sapturday’ events coming to a close

The Brown County Visitors Center, 211 S. Van Buren St., has been hosting host maple syrup events Saturdays in March. Proceeds from Maple “Sapturdays” benefit the Friends of Brown County State Park.

From 10 to 11 a.m. March 31, the Visitors Center will host a chef who will teach visitors ways to cook with maple syrup, with taste-testing. The program includes a walk to the Nashville Fudge Kitchen for a demonstration of how maple syrup is used in the kitchen’s confections. The class costs $10.

Children 12 and younger can participate for free.

Also, look for “Maple on the Menu” signs to find items made with real maple syrup this month at many Brown County restaurants and snack shops. For a list of participating restaurants, visit browncounty.com/maple-on-the-menu.

For more information about “Sapturday” events, call 812-988-7303 or email [email protected].

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.

Talk to a lawyer for free at the library April 3

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.

Question political candidates at local forums

The League of Women Voters of Brown County and Brown County Farm Bureau will host two nights of question-and-answer forums featuring contested candidates on 2018 primary election ballots:

Tuesday, April 3 at 6:30 p.m: 9th Congressional District candidates

Wednesday, April 11 at 6:30 p.m.: Brown County clerk, Brown Circuit Court judge and Brown County commissioner forums, in that order. Citizens should be aware that due to Indiana Code of Judicial Conduct restrictions, the judge candidates will make extended statements, but not take questions on a panel.

Both forums will take place in the Salmon Room of the County Office Building, at Gould Street and Locust Lane.

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 from 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.

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 a person is just starting with a new device or using a 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.

Litter clean-up day planned for April 21

Keep Brown County Beautiful will conduct a community clean-up day on Earth Day, Saturday, April 21.

To participate, meet at McDonald’s in Nashville at 9 a.m. for free coffee and one free $1 breakfast item provided by KBCB. Afterward, participants will go in groups to pick up litter from Adopt A Roads, their own road, or roads chosen by KBCB for clean-up.

The Helmsburg community also will participate in clean-up day; a meeting place is being discussed.

Keep Brown County Beautiful has tentatively scheduled more community clean-up days for July 21 and Nov. 3. Meet-ups will begin at 9 a.m. at McDonald’s, where free coffee will again be provided.

Plastic gloves, litter grabbers and safety vests will be available. McDonald’s will provide free trash bags and will allow participants to return the litter-filled bags free of charge for disposal.

For more information, call 812-988-0140 or 812-327-9617.

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.

Two-day plant sale will benefit Friends of the Library

From 2 to 6 p.m. Friday, April 27 and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 28, native perennial plants and some annuals will be sold on the lower-level patio of the Brown County Public Library.

Proceeds from the annual sale support the Friends of the Library and the Native Woodlands Ravine Project.

Seed share, plant sale and presentations planned

From 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 28, SEED Brown County will share heirloom seeds during the annual plant sale at the Brown County Public Library.

On the lower-level patio of the library at 205 Locust Lane, participants can bring their own seeds to share and learn more about SEED Brown County.

From noon to 1:30 p.m. that day, “Seed Stewardship” and “The SEED Brown County Story” will be presented in lower-level Room B of the library. Concepts of seed saving, what it means to “steward seeds,” necessity and why the work is urgent will be covered.

For more information, visit facebook.com/BrownCountySeedProject.

Community skate night planned for April 30

FRANKLIN — The Brown County Intermediate School Partnership Committee will host a Brown County community skate night from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Monday, April 30 at the Franklin Skate Club, 2680 N Morton St.

All children must be accompanied by an adult.

There will be a group skate for all who show school spirit. Skaters should wear a school shirt if they have one.

Costs will be $3 per skater and $2 for skate rental. The event will include free face painting by Emily Earnshaw.

For more information, call the Franklin club at 317-738-3775; or with questions, call skate night Chair Dustie Condon at 317-727-5582.

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.

Seed share, plant swap, wild food walk at market

SEED Brown County will have a mobile seed library available for people to get heirloom vegetable seeds for planting at the Sunday farmers market May 20 at Brown County Inn.

SEED encourages others to bring plants and seeds to swap and share at the market, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the parking lot at 51 State Road 46 East.

Plants will be sold through market vendors, so what you don’t swap, you can leave. After the swap, a guided wild food walk will take place.

For a current list of seed varieties, visit seedbrowncounty.org. For upcoming events, visit facebook.com/BrownCountySeedProject.

BCHS Class of ’68 seeks alumni names

The Brown County High School Class of 1968 reunion will be at 6 p.m. Friday, June 22 at Creekside Retreat and an alumni banquet will be served Saturday, June 23 at The Seasons. Alumni are encouraged to bring old photographs, senior “cords” or other memorabilia.

If anyone has contact information on Sandra Badger, Larry Brown, Philip Fox, Deana Norman, Marilyn Reeves, Vicki Sterret, Sharon Stewart, Christanne Swain Traxler or Mike Waltz, let them know about the class reunion. Send contact information to Steve Bright on Facebook or call him at 812-599-6567, or call June Woods Floyd at 812-391-4189.

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.

Seed-saving demonstration planned at market Oct. 7

Torrie Rae of SEED Brown County and Ben Cohen of Small House Farm in Michigan will present a seed-saving demonstration at the Sunday farmers market Oct. 7.

From noon to 2 p.m. at the Brown County Inn parking lot, 51 State Road 46 East, visitors can get lessons on processing homestead-size seed harvests. Rae and Cohen will share information about the seed library and provide plants and seeds to process. Everyone is encouraged to bring plants and seeds to process from the seeds and plants they received through Brown County SEED earlier in the year.

For more information, visit facebook.com/BrownCountySeedProject.

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.