Free workshops to be offered at library

The Brown County Public Library, 205 Locust Lane, will offer a variety of workshops, classes and more this winter.

Adults can learn the basics of the Zentangle Method on Thursday, Jan. 23 from 6 to 7 p.m. Bring out your inner artist by learning about this meditative pattern technique. Registration is required; the limit will be 10 people.

Many activities will be offered for young people as well:

• Sparks Kids, explore and create using a variety of materials, for children 6 and younger, Fridays in January, 10 a.m.
• Storytime/Playtime, for children 6 and younger, a short storytime followed by free play fun, Mondays, Jan. 27, Feb. 3, 10 and 17 at 11 a.m.
• Creative Builders, for ages 11 and younger, building fun, Tuesdays, Jan. 21, 28, Feb. 4, 11 and 18 at 10 a.m.
• Afternoon Storytime, for ages 6 and younger, stories, rhymes and songs, Tuesdays, Jan. 21, 28, Feb. 4, 11 and 18, 5 to 5:30 p.m.
• Ready Readers, for ages 6 to 11, kids practice their reading skills while exploring the world around them and sharing with each other, Thursdays, Jan. 23, 30, Feb. 6, 13 and 20 at 2:30 p.m.
• Kids Crafternoon, for ages 11 and younger, short creative craft program, Thursdays, Jan. 23, 30, Feb. 6, 13 and 20 at 2:30 p.m.
• Shawms and Stories/Forgotten Clefs, for ages 11 and younger, musical storytelling for families featuring the Forgotten Clefs performers, Thursday, Jan. 23 from 3 to 4 p.m.

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

Spot bald eagles on driving tour at Lake Monroe

BLOOMINGTON — Lake Monroe will host a Bald Eagle Driving Tour on Sunday, Jan. 26, headquartered at Paynetown State Recreation Area, 4850 S. State Road 446 in Bloomington.

The self-guided tour is from 2 to 4 p.m. and will have six outdoor shoreline stops, each staffed by experienced bird watchers.

Advance registration is $5 for adults, $3 for children and is available through Jan. 23 by phone at 812-837-9546 or in person at the Monroe lake office. Registrants will need to check-in in front of the Paynetown Activity Center on Jan. 26 between 1 and 3 p.m. to pick up their event buttons and tour maps.

Walk-up registration is $7 for adults, $4 for children on Jan. 26 from 1 to 3 p.m. in front of the Paynetown Activity Center, cash or check only.

A warming center will be available from 1 to 4 p.m. with complimentary hot cocoa and tea, cookies, and crafts for kids on the tour.

Questions should be directed to Jill Vance at 812-837-9967 or [email protected].

Unity Baptist Church celebrating 175 years

HAMBLEN TWP. — In 1845, 72 people began meeting for worship in what quickly became Unity Baptist Church. Unity is the oldest active church in Brown County and continues its ministries of caring and service to communities in Brown, Morgan and Johnson counties.

An anniversary celebration is planned for Sunday, Jan. 26, with a worship service at 9:30 a.m. followed by a pitch-in dinner of chili and sides, along with games for all ages. Everyone is invited to attend.

Unity Baptist Church is at 7361 Spearsville Road, three miles northeast of Bean Blossom.

Email [email protected] for more information.

Solar energy meeting to be at library

Earth Rising and SIREN will host a program on solar energy in Brown County on Sunday, Jan. 26 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in meeting room B at the Brown County Public Library, 205 Locust Lane.

The meeting will serve “to teach the community how it can help protect children’s health and future.” For more information, email Bill Todd at [email protected].

Discussion about regional food economy

BEDFORD — The IU Center for Rural Engagement and IU Sustainable Food Systems Science will host a conference on Thursday, Jan. 30 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the StoneGate Arts and Education Center, 931 15th St. in Bedford. The conference is designed to bring practitioners together from different economic and community food sectors to learn and share interests in developing a regional food economy.

The Appalachian Center for Economic Networks will present and lead discussions on how they have successfully built a rural, regional food economy in Ohio.

The cost is $10 and includes a continental breakfast, lunch, afternoon desserts and snacks, attendance at all sessions and one-on-one consulting with presenters. Visit rural.iu.edu for more information.

Participate in the local community band

The Brown County Community Band will begin practicing Thursday nights beginning Feb. 6 in the Brown County High School band room, 235 Schoolhouse Lane. Rehearsals are from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Upcoming performances include a benefit concert for Habitat for Humanity in May and performances at the Brown County Playhouse and at Sweetwater Lake in June.

BCCB takes the summer off and begins rehearsals for the fall and winter concerts in August.

For more information, contact Bill Schnackel at 765-490-0789 or [email protected].

Local inn to host women’s Bible study

A new community women’s Bible study is being offered by Laura Stuart and Deeper Truth Ministries. “Unexplainable Jesus: Rediscovering the God you thought you knew” by Erica Wiggenhorn will begin Tuesday, Feb. 11 at 1 p.m. in the lower conference room of Cornerstone Inn, 54 E. Franklin St.

The study will run each Tuesday for eight weeks, ending on March 31.

For more information, contact Stuart at 812-720-0556 or [email protected].

Annual cemetery meeting set for February

MORGANTOWN — The East Hill Cemetery annual meeting will be Wednesday, Feb. 12 at 4 p.m. at the Morgantown Community Center, 269 W. Washington St. The public is welcome to attend.

Make your own soap at local goat farm

BELMONT — The Goat Conspiracy, 6022 Kent Road, will host a soap-making workshop on Sunday, Feb. 16 from 1 to 4:30 p.m.

Participants will be able to make a batch of soap, leaving with five bars, and finish the day with a glass of wine. Those interested will also be able to tour the farm and meet some of the goats.

The cost is $75 and registration is required. Visit goatconspiracy.com for more information.

Disease control conference scheduled in county

Brown County Inn, 51 State Road 46 East, will host an Indiana Vector Control Association conference Sunday, March 8 through Tuesday, March 10.

Sessions include information on Asian longhorned ticks; new insights on pathogen transmission risk by West Nile Virus vectors in Illinois; geographic variation on black-legged ticks; evaluating the impact of mosquito control on honeybees; a state chemist update; an Indiana arboviral and tick surveillance update; deer management and impending disease issues; an EEE panel; bedbugs; cockroach resistance and rats.

The cost is $115 in advance, $155 at the door and $55 for students.

Contact Andrew Grau at 317-221-7456 for more information.

Medicare seminar offered in Nashville each month

A free Medicare 101 seminar will be offered the first Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m. at McGinley Insurance Agency, 145 S. Jefferson St., diagonally across from The Salvation Army.

The seminar is for people who are new to Medicare or not happy with their current plan, and those who have questions about anything related to Medicare.

With questions, call 812-988-6399.

Youth program offered at Unity Baptist

HAMBLEN TWP. — The Word of Life youth program has begun at Unity Baptist Church, 7361 Spearsville Road. It will meet on Wednesday nights from 6 to 8:15 p.m. through the end of April 2020.

The program includes age-appropriate biblical learning through fun and dynamic activities. A meal is provided. All youth from ages 4 to 17 are welcome.

For more information, email [email protected].

Game library available at Toy Chest

The Toy Chest, 125 S. Van Buren St., has created a game library that locals can use for a $10 annual membership fee.

Game library members can check out one game at the Toy Chest register. Games can be kept for a week or they can be renewed for another week. If the game is late, $1 will be charged each day up to the price of the game.

See the Toy Chest Game Library Facebook page for new game and other announcements.

Recycle center will take bagged trash for $2

The Brown County Recycle Center now accepts trash at its drive-through during regular hours, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays.

Drop-off costs $2 per bag. The center offers prepaid sticker books for $10 or $20, with five or 10 yellow stickers to affix to trash bags up to 55 gallons.

For more information, call the center at 812-988-0140. The center is at 176 Old State Road 46.

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.