Free legal aid phone clinic set this month
Legal Aid will conduct a free legal service phone clinic on Tuesday, Feb. 22 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 Feb. 8 between noon and 2 p.m. A volunteer attorney will return a call to registered individuals between 3 and 5:30 p.m.
Social security seminar scheduled
Westpoint Financial Group will present “Social Security Matters?” at the Brown County Public Library, 205 Locust Lane, on Feb. 23 from noon to 1 p.m. All seniors and future beneficiaries are invited to attend.
Joe Knoth and Gred Alexander will lead the seminar, and answer any questions. Free lunch will be provided.
The next sessions will be on March 30 and April 27. For any questions, contact Clara Stanley at 312-310-3617 or [email protected].
Ag day breakfast at county fairgrounds
The annual Brown County Ag Day Breakfast is planned for Feb. 25 at 8:30 a.m. in the Exhibit Building at the Brown County Fairgrounds, 802 Memorial Drive.
The theme will be “Agriculture: Growing a Climate for Tomorow.” The featured speaker will be Dr. James Farmer, associate professor of outdoor recreation, parks and human ecology at Indiana University.
To RSVP, call the Brown County Soil and Water District office at 812-988-2211 or [email protected].
The breakfast is presented by Purdue University Extension Brown County, Indiana Farm Bureau and Brown County Soil and Water District.
Information session for caretakers set
Thrive Alliance will hold a virtual information session for caretakers on Feb. 17 at 5 p.m.
Volunteer Advocated for Seniors and Incapacitated Adults aims to increase an individual’s quality of life by making decisions that reflect their own choices. The VASIA Program recruits, trains and supervises community volunteers to provide support and advocacy to those who are unable to care for themselves.
For more information about the session or to volunteer for the program, email [email protected].
Project Lifesaver applications open
TRIAD and the Brown County Sheriff’s Department have announced that applications are now open for Project Lifesaver.
Those with loved ones at risk of wandering would obtain a personalized wrist-watch sized radio transmitter fitted to their wrist that would be used to locate them if they go missing.
This program is available to any Brown County resident due to a grant support from the Brown County Community Foundation and its partners.
For more information, call TRIAD at 812-988-5606.
Library announces activities, events
The Brown County Public Library, 205 Locust Lane, will host several activities and events in the upcoming week.
Monday Morning Storytime will happen on Feb. 14, 21 and 28 at 10:30 a.m. Kids ages up to age 6 can enjoy songs, stories and activities.
Night Owl Storytime will take place on Feb. 9 at 5 p.m. Kids ages 8 and under can enjoy relaxing stories and songs.
At the Library After School (ATLAS) will happen on Feb. 16 at 5 p.m. at the Cordry-Sweetwater branch, 8751 Nineveh Road. Evening activities and crafts will be available for kids grades 1 through 6.
ATLAS for teens sixth grade and up will occur on Feb. 10, 17 and 24 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Crafts and snacks will be available.
The Novel Bunch Book Club will meet on Feb. 16 at 2 p.m. They will discuss “Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker” by Jennifer Chiaverini. Copies are available for checkout.
Cordry-Sweetwater Bookies Book Club will meet on Feb. 16 at 6:30 p.m. They will discuss “The Life We Bury” by Allen Elkins. The club will meet at the Cordry-Sweetwater branch.
BCPL Craft Club will meet on Feb. 23 at 6 p.m. The theme will be intro to metal embossing and is open to adults and teens 13 and older. Registration opens Feb. 1 at https://browncountylibrary.info/craft-club.
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. 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.
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.
Bike shop to host movie night
Brown County Bikes, 185 S. Jefferson St., will host a “World Ride” movie night on Feb. 24 at 6 p.m.
World Ride is a nonprofit that has a mission of empowering women globally through mountain biking. They work with local women in Nepal, Guatemala, and hopefully more countries soon to help get more women on mountain bikes.
World Bikes strives to establish bike libraries for women to borrow from, donate gear for women to use or borrow, support women with leadership and guide training and much more.
Follwing a short welcome at 6 p.m., Kate Strom, Danielle and Kate Nolan and Janie Welsh will host an “Ask an Instructor” panel. Afterward, five short films will be presented, followed by a raffle to help support World Ride.
Admission for the event is $5 for students and $10 for adults. Adults may also purchase a $20 donation ticket. Tickets for the event can be purchased at browncountybikes.com/about/world-ride-movie-night-pg213.htm?preview=true.
Ladies Brunch planned at church
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.
Goat milk soap workshop slated
Learn how to make goat milk soap in a workshop at Goat Conspiracy, 6022 Kent Road, on Feb. 27 from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Tour the farm, meet the goats and end with a glass of wine.
Participants will get to take home five bars of soap from the batch. Admission is $80. For reservations and information, email [email protected] or visit thegoatconspiracy.com.
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.
Information sessions for caretakers slated
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 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.
Deescalation workshop scheduled
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 class will be open to the community to enroll after Feb. 15.
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.
The class is free to all Brown County employees.
To register, email [email protected] or call 812-988-2255.
Homeownership classes postponed
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 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.
Recycling, shredding days announced
The Brown County Solid Waste Management District, 176 Old State Road 46, has announced the dates for tire recycling, electronics recycling, and document shredding.
Tire recycling day will be on Friday, March 25 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the back of the Recycle Center property. Passenger tires and small truck tires will be no charge. Fees for rims and larger tires will apply.
Electronic recycling day will be on Saturday, April 9 from 8 a.m. to noon, or until the trucks are full, at the back of the Recycling Center property. TV sets and computer monitors will be $20 to recycle.
Document shredding day will be on Saturday, April 9 from 9 to 11:45 a.m. in the front lot of the Recycle Center.
Counseling service available 24/7
A free mental health crisis hotline is available through Be Well Indiana.
The Be Well Indiana Crisis Hotline is confidential and available 24 hours a day. Individuals who call the crisis helpline can seek support for several distress reactions including anxiety or fearfulness, issues with sleep, isolation, intrusive thoughts, difficulty concentrating or making decisions, fatigue and sadness.
A trained counselor will speak with callers and refer them to additional crisis counseling or mental health resources if needed.
Individuals can call 211 to reach the helpline.
Get on the calendar: Community Calendar is for events and happenings that involve and are open to the community. The deadline to make the Feb. 23 edition is noon Thursday, Feb. 17. Email [email protected] or call 812-988-2221.
