Holiday events, more planned at library

At the Library After School (ATLAS) will take place on Dec. 9 and 16 from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. at the Brown County Public Library, 205 Locust Lane. Games, crafts and snacks will be available for children ages 6 and up.

Monday Morning Storytime will occur on Dec. 13 and 20 at 10:30 a.m. The stories are for children 6 and under.

Homeschool Huddle will happen on Dec. 7 at 2 p.m. and will include winter crafts and stories.

Night Owl Storytime will be on Dec. 8 at 6 p.m. Children under 8 can enjoy relaxing stories and songs. Pajamas, stuffed animals and blankets are welcome.

Holiday cocoa and cookies will be served on Dec. 11 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Free legal aid phone clinic set for this week

Legal Aid will conduct a free legal service phone clinic on Tuesday, Dec. 7 for low-income residents of eight Indiana counties, including Brown County.

The clinic will take place from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Callers can expect a 10-minute phone consultation where legal professionals will answer general questions and offer legal information.

Individuals seeking consultation must register by calling Legal Aid at 812-378-0358 on Dec. 7 between noon and 2 p.m. A volunteer attorney will return a call to registered individuals between 3 and 5:30 p.m.

The next Legal Aid phone clinic will be Monday, Jan. 17 with the same registration requirements and time frame.

Christmas Cantata, children’s program set

Cottonwood Church will host their annual Christmas Cantata and children’s program this weekend on Dec. 11 and 12.

The children’s program “What Christmas Really Means” will be presented on Saturday and Sunday at 6 p.m.

Cottonwood Church is located two miles north of Helmsburg on Lick Creek Road.

The community is invited to the evening celebration that will share the meaning of Christmas.

ChamberFest benefit concert this week

A ChamberFest Brown County benefit concert is scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 12 at the Brown County Presbyterian Church, 602 State Road 135 North, beginning at 2 p.m.

All donations from the concert will go towards ChamberFest Brown County 2022, which is scheduled next year for Aug. 14 through 20.

Baritone Bruno Sandes with be joined by pianist Aleksey Artemyev in performing songs from the program “Songs from Europe and the New World.”

A few holiday songs and other traditional songs will also be performed.

Bruno is a native of Brazil. He is known for his “ability to engage deeply with any audience” and his “warm, refined, and mature voice.” He has performed on stages and in theaters in the U.S., Europe and South America.

Aleksey is from the Republic of Georgia and has a doctorate from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in piano.

The first-ever Brown County ChamberFest was this year. Trios, string quartets and more performed all over the county as part of the music festival.

At the ChamberFest, audience members experience classical music performed in an intimate setting, known as chamber music. The genre consists of a small ensemble of musicians — more than two, less than 10 — each performing their own part on traditional instruments that have evolved over the last couple centuries.

Thrive Alliance seeks older adults for survey

Thrive Alliance is searching for participants living in Bartholomew, Brown, Decatur, Jackson and Jennings counties to complete an assessment survey.

The Community Assessment Survey for Older Adults (COSOA) is meant to compare older adults’ perceptions of the community to other communities across the nation.

Members of the community over the age of 60 may receive an invitation to participate in the mail. If an invitation is not received, those wishing to participate can visit www.polco.us/indiana21.

According to Thrive Alliance, the survey includes questions about the quality of life in the community, local policies, demographics, rating of local government services and resident use of services. A postage paid envelope will be included with the survey.

Alpha courses return to Parkview church

Parkview Church of the Nazarene will host their eighth annual Alpha Course, every Monday through Feb. 7 from 5:50 to 8 p.m. The course includes a meal, a video and a discussion.

Call the church office at 812-988-7797 or Mark at 812-350-9655 to register. Childcare is available.

Victorian Candlelight Dinners this month

The Story Inn, 6404 State Road 135 South, will host Victorian Candlelight Dinners starting on Dec. 3 that will occur every Friday and Saturday evening through February. There will be two seatings: One at 5 p.m. and another at 7:30 p.m.

Staff will be dressed in authentic Victorian clothing with traditional live music from the piano. The evening will feature a special menu that can be found at www.storyinn.com/dining.

Call 812-988-2273 or visit storyinn.com for reservations.

Visit Friendly Forest Winter Wonderland

Jackson Township Fire Department, 4831 Helmsburg Road, will host the annual Friendly Forest Winter Wonderland on Dec. 10 and 11 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Families and children of all ages are welcomed to walk through the forest full of holiday lights and decorations while listening to Christmas music.

This event is free.

Are you on the nice list? Visit with Santa

Santa will be at the Brown County History Center, 90 Gould St., in the Gnaw Bone Log Room on Dec. 10 and 11 from noon to 5 p.m. Children of all ages can tell Santa Claus what they want for Christmas and tell him their plans for the holidays.

Visits are free and open to the public.

Ho-ho-hungry? Enjoy breakfast with Santa

The North Pole will come to the barn at Timber Ridge, 425 Hornettown Road, on Dec. 11 from 8 to 10 a.m.

Visitors can eat breakfast and take photos with Santa. The menu will include biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs, french toast and sausage along with coffee, juice or water to drink.

Children can write a letter to Santa and his elves will mail back a response.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children.

Reservations can be made at www.eventbrite.com/e/breakfast-with-santa-tickets-215377629287?fbclid=IwAR2-l3J6ttvOmAb_zeiGrMxFhfHnKzOWB_FOJ-wJxq3zg2GzYeEGbEk73TI.

Drive-thru food pantry, coat drive this month

A drive-thru food pantry and youth coat drive will happen on Dec. 15 from 3:30 to 5 p.m., or while supplies last. The drive will be held in the Parkview Church parking lot, 1750 State Road 46 East.

For questions or if delivery is needed, call the Brown County COAD Hotline at 812-988-0001.

The drive is sponsored by Brown County COAD, St. Vincent De Paul/St. Agnes, Brown County YMCA, TRIAD, Brown County Sheriff’s Department Reserves and Unity Baptist Church.

Youth coats will be provided by God’s Grace.

Home ownership classes available

Brown County Habitat for Humanity, in collaboration with Purdue Extension and Thrivent, will host a series of home ownership classes for both current homeowners and those interested in purchasing a home in the future.

Classes will consist of six in-person sessions at the Purdue Extension Office community meeting room, 802 Memorial Drive. Classes will be every Monday from Jan. 17 to Feb. 21.

A daytime class option is available from 1 to 2:30 p.m. The evening classes will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The cost is $10 per person. The cost of the class will be reimbursed to individuals who attend all six sessions.

To register, visit www.browncountyhabitat.org.

For more information, contact Brown County Habitat for Humanity at 812-988-4926.

Get on the calendar: Community Calendar is for events and happenings that involve and are open to the community. The deadline to make the Dec. 15 edition is noon Thursday, Dec. 9. Email [email protected] or call 812-988-2221.