Food and farm council meeting this month
The Brown County Food and Farm Council is seeking community members to attend their next meeting on Jan. 28 at 10:30 a.m. The meeting will be held at the Purdue Extension Brown County Office, 802 Memorial Drive.
The food council aims to be collaborative and influence the local food system to be become more accessible to those who need fresh food as well as aid farmers so they can thrive and keep their produce local.
Specific goals include learning about other food councils to create their own structure, educating the community about available resources, programming and education efforts and increasing access to locally grown foods.
Those interested in learning more can call the Purdue Extension Brown County Office at 812-988-5495, or email extension educator Kara Hammes at [email protected].
First legislative update of 2022
The first legislative update of 2022 with state legislators who represent Brown County will be held virtually on Saturday, Jan. 22 from 9:30 to 11 a.m.
State senators and representatives for Brown and Monroe counties, including Sen. Eric Koch and District 62 Rep. Jeff Ellington, have been invited to report on their work and priorities for the current session. There will also be time for questions from attendees.
To register for the Zoom meeting, go to lwv-bmc.org/legis-update. All updates are free and open to the public.
Upcoming updates are scheduled for Feb. 12 and March 26 at the same time.
All sessions will be available through Monroe County Public Library with a recording available at lwv-bmc.org/legis-update shortly after each session.
The event is co-sponsored by the League of Woman Voters of Bloomington-Monroe County, the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce, the League of Women Voters of Brown County and the Brown County Chamber of Commerce.
Drive-thru food pantries to begin in February
The Brown County COAD — Community Organizations Active in a Disaster — pop-up pantries will begin again in February, weather permitting.
In the meantime, if anyone is in need of food there are multiple pantries in the community to help. Existing food pantries include:
- St. Vincent DePaul Food Pantry: Monday and Saturdays from 10am to 12pm.
- Salvation Army Food Pantry Wednesdays and Fridays 10am-1pm
- North Salem United Methodist—1st Thursday of month
- Mother’s Cupboard Community Kitchen –hot meals daily 4pm-6pm
- St. David’s Episcopal Church Giving Box—Emergency food box available 24-7
- The Pentecostals of Nashville—Thursdays 5-7PM
Those in need of a ride to the pantry can call Brown County Access at 812-988-0185.
For delivery, call the COAD hotline at 812-988-0001 or Northern Brown County Food Alliance at 812-720-4054.
IU Health extends clinic hours
Indiana University Family and Internal Medicine in Nashville, 105 Willow St., will have extended clinic hours in January. The clinic will now be open until 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday for urgent care.
Urgent care includes: Abdominal pain or stomach aches, allergic reactions, cuts, bites, earaches, headaches, minor burns, sprains or strains, strep and sore throat, upper respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, common cold and flu-like symptoms and COVID symptoms
The extended hours are not for true emergencies or routine checkups and medication refills.
Bible study classes starting this month
All people are invited to come and learn more about Community Bible Study, an in-depth interdenominational study.
The study began in 1975 and is now available in 78 languages all around the world. The intent is for the Nashville community to be an in-person remote core group as part of the Bloomington Coed Class. The organization is planning three informational meetings that will meet on Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. for one hour at The Chapel at the Cornerstone Inn, 54 E. Franklin St. The remote core group will continue to meet on this same day and time following the informational meetings.
The current 30 week study will end in April and then resume again in September. For questions, contact Mike Heil at [email protected] or Shelley Heil at [email protected]. Information about Community Bible Study can be found at www.communitybiblestudy.org.
Library announces activities, events
The Brown County Public Library, 205 Locust Lane, will host several activities and events in the upcoming week.
The At the Library After School program will occur on Jan. 19 and 27 from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. Kids six and up can enjoy activities, crafts, games and snacks at ATLAS.
Monday Morning Storytime will be on Jan. 24 at 10 a.m. Kids six and under are invited for stories, songs, games and movement.
Novel Bunch Book Club will meet on Jan. 19 at 2 p.m. They will discuss “The Astronaut Wives Club” by Lily Koppel. Copies are available for checkout at the library.
BCPL Craft Club will meet on Jan. 25 at 6 p.m. Adults and teens 13 and up will be making next-level paper beads. No registration is required.
Virtual Veterans Experience Action Center open this month
The Virtual Veterans Experience Action Center will be open on Tuesday, Jan. 25 to Thursday, Jan. 27 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to help veterans with a variety of needs.
One-on-one assistance will be available for Veterans Affairs claims, health care, community resources and other benefits.
Veterans can sign up to participate by visiting www.va.gov/initiatives/veterans-experience-action-centers/. Some flexibility on appointment day and time will also be available.
This is a collaborative event between the VA, the Indiana Department of Veteran Affairs and several county veterans service officers, including Brown County Veterans Service Officer Chris Snell.
Food management class set in January
The Brown County Health Department will offer a ServSafe Food Manager Class Tuesday and Wednesday, Jan. 25 and 26 in the Salmon Room in the County Office Building, 201 Locust Lane. The class will include the exam to become a certified food manager.
A food establishment is required by law to have a certified food manager on staff. Nonprofits are not required to have certified staff; however, food knowledge is still required by code.
Class on Jan. 25 starts at 8:30 a.m. and runs until 12:30 p.m. The Jan. 26 class starts at 8:30 a.m. and runs until about 2:30 p.m. The class will use the seventh edition of the ServSafe Food Manager text with 2017 food code updates.
Class is limited to 14 participants. The cost is $150 and includes the text, test and class. Call the health department at 812-988-2255 for information or to register.
Community Foundation survey results and calendar meeting
In September, the Brown County Community Foundation performed a survey of potential training needs of the county’s nonprofits.
Representatives from nonprofits around the county expressed a desire for board and volunteer development, fundraising and communications support. With this feedback in mind, BCCF began to build plans for a nonprofit resource center (NRC) program.
The NRC launch event will be virtually on Zoom on Jan. 25 at 6 p.m. A summary of the survey results and a tentative calendar for training and professional development opportunities in 2022 will be shared. To register for this free event, visit www.eventbrite.com and search “Non-Profit Resource Center Launch and Appreciation Event.”
All community nonprofit volunteers, directors and board members are encouraged to attend.
Free tax preparation available
The Brown County Public Library is partnering with United Way of Monroe County to provide free federal and Indiana tax preparation for qualified residents.
To verify qualification, call the library at 812-988-2850 or visit browncountylibrary.info/freetaxprep.
Participants can pick up a free tax prep packet at the library, 205 Locust Lane, beginning on Jan. 26. The completed packet can be returned to the library.
A volunteer certified tax preparer will complete your tax forms and schedule an in-person appointment where you will approve and sign your tax returns.
Ladies Brunch next month
Nashville Christian Church, 160 S. Van Buren St., will host a Ladies Brunch on Feb. 19 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Lifehouse.
The theme of the brunch will be “Hidden Treasures: Lesser-Known Women of the Bible and Their Impact.”
All women are welcome.
Those interested must RSVP by Feb. 11 to 812-988-2889.
Homeownership classes postponed due to pandemic
A series of home ownership classes have been postponed from January to February due to the current COVID-19 situation in the county.
Brown County Habitat for Humanity, in collaboration with Purdue Extension and Thrivent, will host the home ownership classes for both current homeowners and those interested in purchasing a home in the future.
Classes will consist of six sessions in-person in the Purdue Extension Community Meeting Room every Monday from Feb. 7 thru Mar. 14.
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.
Information sessions set for caretakers
Thrive Alliance will offer a virtual information session for those interested in gaining tools for caregiving.
“Powerful Tools for Caregivers” is an educational series by Thrive Alliance designed to provide caregivers with the tools needed to take care of themselves and those to whom they provide care. The program helps family caregivers reduce stress, improve self-confidence, communicate feelings better, balance their lives, increase their ability to make tough decisions and locate helpful resources.
Classes consist of six sessions virtually via Zoom every Wednesday from Jan. 19 through Feb. 23, from 3 to 4:30 p.m.
For more information or to register, contact Thrive Alliance at 812-372-6918 by Jan. 18. Class size is limited and pre-registration is required.
“Powerful Tools for Caregivers” is made possible in part by support from Meredith-Clark Funeral Home and Cremation in Morgantown.
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 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.
Deescalation workshop in March
The Brown County Health Department has received a grant to host Verbal Judo, a deescalation workshop, on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 15 and 16 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Seasons Lodge and Conference Center, 560 State Road 46 East.
Participants will learn how to increase workplace safety by decreasing the chance of workplace violence and learn how to defuse verbal conflict.
The class is free to any county employee courtesy of a grant from the Smithville Charitable Foundation.
The instructor is Mike “Ziggy” Siegried, a speaker who spent 26 years working as a full-time peace officer prior to becoming the COO of the Verbal Judo Institute. Siegfried is a court recognized use-of-force expert and a published author in Police Magazine, the FBI National Academy Associate Magazine, Police Recruit Magazine and Campus Security Magazine.
Register at browncountyhealthdept.org. Email [email protected] or call 812-988-2255 for more information.
Get on the calendar: Community Calendar is for events and happenings that involve and are open to the community. The deadline to make the Jan. 26 edition is noon Thursday, Jan. 20. Email [email protected] or call 812-988-2221.
