Reception planned for retiring Judge Stewart

A retirement reception for retiring Brown Circuit Court Judge Judith Stewart will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 4 at the Brown County Courthouse. A presentation will be made at 5 p.m. All are welcome.

Junior high hosting STEM showcase

The Brown County Junior High School will host a STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) showcase on Dec. 5 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the school’s gymnasium.

Students will present projects they made using technology “across all disciplines of learning,” a flyer for the event states.

The school’s STEM corporate partners will also be at the showcase to educate students, parents and the community about career opportunities in the STEM field.

The community is invited to come to the showcase to celebrate the accomplishments of the students.

Search for Earhart topic of Bald Eagles dinner

Gary Francis Quigg will discuss the search for aviator Amelia Earhart when the Brown County Bald Eagles conduct a dinner meeting Saturday, Dec. 8 at the Brown County Inn.

The meeting, to honor the 77th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, will begin at 11 a.m. with “meet and greet” time at the inn, on the southwest corner where state roads 135 North and 46 East intersect.

A traditional harvest buffet will begin at noon. Reservations are needed by Thursday, Dec. 6. For $22, the buffet will include fried chicken, biscuits with apple butter, green beans, mashed potatoes with gravy, tossed green salad with toppings, iced tea, lemonade and coffee.

At 1 p.m., Quigg will talk about his involvement with The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery (TIGHAR) in search of an answer to the disappearance of Earhart and her navigator, Fred Noonan, during her around-the-world record flight attempt. Quigg has extensive archaeological field experience and has won awards for PBS documentaries. He participated in six expeditions to Nikomaroro Island in the South Pacific to conduct research on the disappearance of Earhart.

The Bald Eagles have met twice a year for more than 25 years and are made up of military veterans and others who have an interest in aviation and aviation history. Dress is casual and friends are welcome at the dinner.

To RSVP, email [email protected] or call 812-988-2377.

Senior art, craft fair happening this Saturday

Residents of Willow Manor and Hawthorne Hills senior apartments will host an art and craft fair from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8 at Willow Manor, 72 Willow St.

The show will be in the community room. Enter the door that says “art and craft fair.” There is no admission charge.

Artisans from both buildings have been preparing for the fair for months. Items include original paintings, pen-and-ink drawings, homemade cards, Christmas decorations, knitted hats and scarves, decorative tiles and rocks, slate art, jewelry, character dolls, calligraphy and much more, reasonably priced. Participating artisans include Tim Ackerman, Ben Bryant, Brenda Anderson, Pat Knarzer, Shirley Brown and Jean Miller.

For more information, visit browncounty.com or call 812-988-7303.

Open house at winery slated Saturday

Brown County Winery will host an open house from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8 at 4520 State Road 46 East.

The free event includes winery tours, holiday treats, music from 2 to 4:30 p.m., tank tastings and three-bottle box discounts.

For more information, visit browncountywinery.com/events or call 812-988-6144.

Free smartphone help offered at library

Volunteer Ryan Ridge will present information to help those with a smartphone use its features Tuesday, Dec. 11 at Brown County Public Library.

Ridge will be available from 4 to 6 p.m. in a lower-level meeting room at the library, 205 Locust Lane. Bring your phone.

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

Monthly weave-in, spin-in planned at library

Teen and adult weavers and spinners, whether expert or beginner, can bring looms, spindles and wheels to the Brown County Public Library. The free program, from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 15, is an opportunity to share weaving and spinning projects, ideas and to ask questions.

No prior registration is needed. For more information, call the library at 812-988-2850.

Food pantry open following service

HAMBLEN TWP. — Following the 10 a.m. service Sunday, Dec. 16 at Sprunica Baptist Church, the new food pantry at the church, 3902 Sprunica Road, will be open.

State park passes, permits, tags available for next year

Annual entrance permits, horse tags, off-road cycling permits and lake permits for 2019 are on sale now at DNR Division of State Parks property offices.

Permits can be purchased online or at state parks. They are good from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31. Without a pass, daily entrance to the parks for in-state visitors costs $7 per car. The types of permits are:

• $50 annual entrance permit
• $25 Golden Hoosier Passport: For Indiana residents who are at least 65 or eligible for Social Security disability payments under 42 U.S.C. 401.
• $70 non-resident annual entrance permit
• $20 annual horse tag: Entitles one horse access and the use of DNR properties where horse use is allowed. Vehicle admission is not included.
• $20 off-road cycling permit: Required for cyclists wishing to access and use mountain bike trails on state park, reservoir and state forest properties with trail ratings above beginner. A daily bicycle pass costs $5. It is not required for park roads and paved biking trails.
• Lake permits ($25 annual motorized; $5 annual non-motorized): Required for all private watercraft using a state park lake, state-managed lake, state forest lake or Division of Outdoor Recreation lake.

For more information on annual entrance permits, visit stateparks.IN.gov/5062.htm. To buy permits online, visit stores.innsgifts.com/permits.

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.

Local game convention planned in spring

BroCoCon, Brown County’s first game convention, is planned from Friday to Sunday, March 29 to 31 at the Brown County Inn, 51 State Road 46 East.

The event, hosted by The Toy Chest is intended to be family- and adult-friendly; adults are welcome with or without children.

The convention will include booths set up by category and vendor to learn, play and/or buy games, with popular strategy, family, party and toddler games available.

Game instruction will be provided, with time to learn and play new games, get instruction on strategy games, participate in a scavenger hunt around town and enjoy a 21-and-older after-party, as well as other activities.

BroCoCon tickets cost $10 per adult and $5 per child, with 2 and younger admitted free. The adult after-party, $10, includes a drink ticket. Fees of about $1.50 per ticket will be added.

For more information, visit BroCoCon on Facebook, stop by The Toy Chest, 125 S. Van Buren St., or call 812-988-2817.