Free phone legal clinic happening this week
Legal Aid will hold a free legal aid phone clinic on Tuesday, June 23 from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Registration is required between noon and 1:30 p.m. that day.
The Legal Aid clinic and pro bono program utilize local volunteer attorneys, offering free legal consultations to low-income people who might not otherwise be able to afford the counsel of an attorney.
People calling in can expect to receive a 10-minute consultation to answer general questions, offer legal information or to receive other limited assistance or advice.
Register by calling Legal Aid at 812-378-0358. The next clinic after this one will be July 7.
Virtual annual report to be on Facebook
The Brown County Community Foundation’s Annual Report to the community will be a streaming from Rainwater Studios on YouTube and Facebook on Thursday, June 25 at 7 p.m. It will be an evening of local music performances, video testimonials, special announcements and philanthropy in Brown County.
The lineup of performers includes the Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, Rich Hardesty, and Heather and Barry Elkins.
The event can be watched live on the community foundation’s social media channels including Facebook and YouTube. Links to the event can be found at browncountygives.com.
Nashville Farmers Market now open Sundays
The Nashville Farmers Market is open every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Brown County Inn parking lot, 51 State Road 46 East.
Shoppers can find seasonal produce grown by local farmers, eggs and baked goods. Local growers also offer vegetable starts for gardens, deer-resistant and native plants for landscaping, house plants, perennials and annuals to spruce up patios and porches.
Local crafters and artists share their talents in a variety of forms: pottery, quilting, jewelry and more. Locally made goat’s milk soaps and bath and body products are also available.
Vendors are socially distanced to prevent the spread of COVID-19. All vendors wear masks and provide hand sanitizer. Shoppers are encouraged to wear face covers. The market offers free masks to those who don’t have their own.
The market doubles SNAP and WIC and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program benefits up to $10 per shopper per week. Stop by the information booth for details.
Backpack program fundraiser rescheduled for 2021
This year’s Brown County Touch-A-Truck event, an annual fundraiser for the Brown County Weekend Backpacks program, has been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Next year’s event will be June 19, 2021.
For the past two years, the Brown County High School parking lot has been the site for a free learning experience for participants to get close to dozens of big trucks, heavy equipment, tractors, emergency vehicles, antique cars and more. Kids of all ages are able to see these vehicles and meet many first responders in person.
“With the pandemic still infecting so many Americans, we decided it was our first priority to protect the participants, volunteers and truck guides,” said Debbie Kelley, one of the event organizers.
Touch-A-Truck has been the primary fundraising vehicle to support Brown County Weekend Backpacks, which sends healthy weekend meals home with students who are in food-insecure homes. Half the food needed is donated by almost a dozen churches in the community. With the pandemic closing churches, food donations declined.
This year was to be the first for the event to have presenting sponsors. Duke Energy and SCI REMC donated a combined $5,000. Both opted to leave the money with the program, followed by 100 percent of the remaining sponsors. A full list of sponsors can be found at browncountytouchatruck.com.
“We are especially grateful for this show of support, since during the time when schools are closed and many families have seen job hours shortened or have lost jobs, the need to continue to provide healthy weekend meals to the children in our community is even greater” said BC Weekend Backpacks President Jan Swigert.
The group has continued to provide weekend food, with the help of the school district and volunteers, during the coronavirus shutdown.
With the reduction in food donations, the program is still in need of additional cash and food donations. To help, contact Swigert at [email protected].
Food donations needed include:
- Canned chili — 10.75 oz
- Spaghetti and meatballs — 15 oz
- Ravioli — 15 oz
- Individual cereal boxes
- Ramen noodles
- Individually wrapped peanut butter crackers
- Individually wrapped cheese crackers
Lions club opens applications for grants
The Brown County Lions club is ready to receive grant applications from organizations wanting funding for special projects. Applications must be postmarked no later than Tuesday, June 30 in order to be considered.
Forms can be secured by contacting the Brown County Lions Club, P.O. Box 716, Nashville, IN 47448, or visiting the Lions Club website at e-clubhouse.org/sites/browncounty.
The grants committee will review all applications during July with allocations to be made in mid-August. Funds are limited this year and will be awarded based upon the importance of each project to the betterment of the community.
Annual wine fair rescheduled for August
STORY — Story Inn’s annual Indiana Wine Fair has been postponed to Aug. 8. The schedule of the events will remain the same as it was planned for May 2.
A Taste of Art fundraiser moved to new date
The Rotary Club of Brown County will have its 5th Annual “A Taste of Art” on Saturday, Aug. 29 at The Seasons Conference Center, 560 State Road 46 East. A large selection of contemporary and heritage art from collectable artists will be available in silent and live auctions.
Tastings, heavy hors d’oeuvres and the silent auction begin at 5 p.m. The live auction by professional auctioneer Dennis Jackson begins at 7 p.m. Sponsors of the liquid tastings include Big Woods, Hard Truth, Quaff ON! Brewing Co. and Country Heritage Winery.
All event proceeds fund scholarships, youth development activities and community projects. Tickets are $50 in advance or $55 at the door.
Tickets and catalogs of artwork in the silent and live auctions are available at rotaryclubofbrowncounty.org.
Mother’s Cupboard benefit canceled for 2020
Mother’s Cupboard Community Kitchen annual Soup Bowl benefit will not happen in 2020 after all.
“The board of directors has decided that due to the uncertainty of what is going to happen within the next few months with the virus, we have decided to have the Soup Bowl next spring,” said Sandy Smith-Richardson.
The date of the next event will be Sunday, March 28.
“This gives everyone in our town time to recover from what has been a difficult year, not only for our community, but shop owners, restaurants and our artists as well. All these people donate their time, soup, silent auction items, etc., to making our event a success,” she wrote.
“If you have purchased a ticket for the event this year, we will be honoring those tickets at the event in March. If you misplace your ticket between now and then, text Sandy at 812-320-3530 and we will get you one, using the honor system.”
Local bluebird club selling nesting boxes
The Brown County Bluebird Club’s annual bluebird nest box sale has begun. Boxes are all cedar and fully assembled. One box is $15 and two boxes are $25. If interested, call Dan Sparks at 812-200-5700.
