Grants available for septic, well repairs
The Great Lakes Community Action Partnership Decentralized Water Systems program recently announced the availability of grants for water well, in-home water treatment and septic system repairs.
The maximum loan amount is $15,000 with a 1% interest rate. The maturity may not exceed 20 years and will depend on repayment ability.
To be eligible for the grant, the applicant’s household income cannot exceed $33,470. In addition, applicants must own and occupy the home or be in the process of purchasing the home for occupancy. New home construction and community water systems are not eligible.
For more information and to apply, call the Brown County Health Department at 812-988-2255.
Free summer meals at YMCA, other locations
Students 18 years old and younger can get free meals and snacks at more than 1,000 locations statewide through the Indiana Department of Education’s Summer Food Service program.
Families can visit IDOENutrition.com to search by the meal served and days of the week where meals are offered. They can also call the National Hunger Hotline at 1-86603-HUNGRY or text “summer meals” to 914-342-7744.
As part of the program, the Brown County YMCA, 105 Willow St., will have breakfast available at 8:30 a.m. and lunch available at 11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday until July 30.
Nashville Farmers Market continues
The Nashville Farmer’s Market will continue through Oct. 30.
The market runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Sunday in the parking lot of the Brown County Inn, 51 State Road 46 East. Parking is free. The market is the place to shop local and support local growers, bakers and makers.
Each week market vendors offer an ever changing selection of locally grown plants from local gardens, seasonal produce, breads and baked goods, pastured meats and eggs, arts and more. Live music will also be performed.
SNAP shoppers can have their benefits doubled at the market information tent. All shoppers can enter to win the market’s weekly $10 raffle. The market is a rain or shine event.
COVID-19 testing ceases
As of July 1, the Brown County Health Department, 200 Hawthorne Drive, has ceased testing for COVID-19, as the demand for testing continues to decrease.
Residents are asked to check availability with pharmacies and primary care providers for any future testing.
The health department has a very limited quantity of home, rapid tests that can be given out to residents. Home tests can also be ordered at covidtests.gov for home delivery at no charge.
The health department is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The health department will offer the Pfizer vaccine to children 6 months and older. To make an appointment call 211 or visit www.ourshot.in.gov. Vaccinations are administered Monday through Friday from 1 to 3:20 p.m. at the health department.
Free walk-in legal clinic
Legal Aid is hosting a free walk in legal clinic for Brown County community members on Tuesday, July 5 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Brown County Public Library, 205 Locust Lane.
Legal Aid will also conduct a free legal service phone clinic on Tuesday, July 12 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 July 12 between noon and 2 p.m. A volunteer attorney will return a call to registered individuals between 3 and 5:30 p.m.
Upcoming events at the library
The Brown County Public Library, 205 Locust Lane, has several events planned for the upcoming weeks.
Monday Morning Storytime will be on July 5, 11, 18 and 25 at 10:30 a.m. The morning will include stories, songs, games and crafts for kids 6 and under.
Lego Club will meet on July 6 from 5 to 7 p.m., July 14 from 6 to 7 p.m., and July 22 from 10 a.m. to noon.
ATLAS (At the Library in the Summer) will meet on July 7, 14 and 21 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Drop in crafts, games, snacks and hang out time will be available for middle and high schoolers.
“Words in Motion: Big Kids Creative Movement” will take place on July 5 at 6 p.m. Kids ages 7 to 12 can learn about creative movement and dance, including turning a story into a dance for an end of class performance. Registration is requested by visiting browncountylibrary.info/events.
“Words & Wiggles: Pre-K Creative Movement” will happen on July 8 at 6 p.m. The class will include an intro to creative movement and dance followed by open play time. The class is for kids 6 and under. Registration is requested by visiting browncountylibrary.info/events.
“Virtual Reality Experience Days” will occur throughout July. People of all ages can enter the world of virtual reality through Oculus Quest 2. Try out a travel experience like Google Earth VR, or play interactive games like “Angry Birds: Isle of Pigs,” “Fruit Ninja,” “Real Fishing” and more. Sessions are 30 minutes each. Registration is requested by visiting browncountylibrary.info/events.
“Tortoise and the Hare Puppet Show” is planned for July 16 at 1 p.m. Adzooks Puppets will present a fun afternoon of storytelling with puppets, followed by a make-your-own puppet craft for kids. All ages are welcome. Registration is requested by visiting browncountylibrary.info/events.
Visit with local police at ice cream event
The Brown County Sheriff’s Department and the Nashville Police Department invites community members to come enjoy a cup of ice cream and meet those who serve the community.
Officers from both departments will be at the Chocolate Moose, 278 S. Van Buren St., on July 6 from 3 to 6 p.m. for “Scoop with a Cop.”
The event will give members of the community a chance to visit with law enforcement, talk about any concerns they have and get a free soft serve cup.
Habitat for Humanity annual meeting
Brown County Habitat for Humanity will have their annual public meeting on Thursday, July 7 at 6:30 p.m. at the Brown County Inn, 51 State Road 46 East.
The purpose of the meeting is to welcome their new executive director and 2022 Partner Family.
The meeting will take place in an outdoor tent. Dessert and refreshments will be provided.
Regional sewer district webinar
The Brown County Regional Sewer District will host an informative webinar on July 18 about the recently completed engineering planning and water quality study.
In the spring of 2020, the regional sewer district was awarded a grant from the Regional Opportunities Initiatives, Inc. through its Ready Communities Initiative. The ROI grant enabled the BCRSD to retain a consulting engineering company to evaluate water quality in the streams and tributaries throughout Brown County and undertake a wastewater infrastructure strategic engineering evaluation of on-site septic treatment systems.
Lochmueller Group, a multi-disciplined engineering firm from Indianapolis, began its work in April, 2020. The strategic planning and engineering study was completed this spring.
The need for a “clean, usable, enjoyable, healthy and safe natural environment is broadly recognized as a high priority for Brown County residents,” according to BCRSD member Clint Studabaker.
Specific online webinar details for time and locations will be announced at a later date. Visit the BCRSD’s website at browncountyrsd.org for more information.
Mobile mammography unit visit this summer
The Ascension Mobile Mammography Unit will be in the Indiana University Health Nashville Family Practice parking lot, 103 Willow St., on July 18 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Those who are eligible for a mammogram should call 317-338-9595 to schedule an appointment and inform the operator that they are calling from Brown County. The registration deadline is one week prior to the visit.
Celebration of Success happening this month
The Brown County Career Resource Center will hold a Celebration of Success for its 2021-2022 graduates on July 19 at 6 p.m.
All CRC students and their families are invited to attend. The celebration will take place in the main gym of the Educational Service Center, 260 Schoolhouse Lane.
For more information, call 812-988-5880 or email [email protected].
Grave marking ceremony planned for this month
The Indiana Society, Sons of the American Revolution, will host a grave marking ceremony on July 23 at 2 p.m.
The ceremony will honor Job Hamblen at the Hamblen-Taylor Cemetery on Sweetwater Trail where he is buried.
Free programs at Trafalgar library
The Trafalgar Country Gardeners and the Johnson County Public Library — Trafalgar Branch are sponsoring two free programs at the library, 424 S. Tower St., later this summer.
“Wildlife Encounters,” a presentation by Providence Wildlife Rehabilitation, will take place on Thursday, July 28 at 6 p.m. Participants can get up close to some of Indiana’s wild residents.
During “Indiana Grown,” attendees can learn about the state-run initiative designed to bring consumers closer to agricultural producers. The presentation will take place on Thursday, Aug. 25 at 6 p.m.
For more information, call 317-517-0566.
Free picnic set for this summer
Brown County TRIAD will hold its annual free picnic on Saturday, Aug. 20 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Parkview Church of the Nazarene, 1750 State Road 46 East.
The picnic will include free food, door prizes and music. Everyone is welcome.
Color Walk set for this summer
Colors will soon fill the air again as the Brown County Community Foundation’s Color Walk is set to take off later this summer.
The Walk will be Aug. 27 from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., starting and ending at the Brown County Fairgrounds, 802 Memorial Drive.
The Walk is approximately a two mile route along the streets of Nashville where walkers will be blasted at various stations with vibrant colored powder. The powder is non-toxic, safe and biodegradable.
An after party at the fairgrounds will feature live music, food booths, activities and more. Participants can walk at their own pace. Toddlers and strollers are welcome.
The event is happening with the support of Brown County Bikes. Some activities they will provide will include learning bike safety basics, bike maintenance workshops, pump track and bike skills courses, and demo bikes to ride.
Over the last five years, the community foundation has provided $183,943 in grants for 130 children to attend preschool in Brown County Schools. Money raised from the Color Walk will support those preschool grants.
Tickets are only required for the Color Walk. Tickets are $10 to $40. The event and fairground activities are free. Tickets are available at eventbrite.com/e/brown-county-community-foundation-2022-color-walk-and-community-event-tickets-324045247057.
BETA accepting applications for volunteers, staff
BETA (Brown County Enrichment for Teens Association), an after school program for teens, is accepting applications for volunteers and staff to help with the program in the upcoming school year.
Those interested can visit the BETA Facebook page for more information.
BETA will join Brown County Parks and Recreation in hosting a “Music in the Park” event at Deer Run Park on Saturday, Aug. 6. The event will feature bluegrass music, food, bounce house and fire trucks. The goal of the event is to raise awareness about the needs that programs such as BETA and parks and recreation face when trying to find volunteers and programs.
Hope Fest returns this summer
The fifth annual Hope Fest is scheduled for later this summer at Deer Run Park.
The resource and recovery fair will be on Aug. 20 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Deer Run Park, 1001 Deer Run Lane.
Support services will have booths with information. The day will also feature music, food, giveaways, activities for kids, a dunk tank, recovery testimonies, cornhole and more.
Hope Fest is put on by Do Something Inc., a local nonprofit which operates the Launch House in Nashville that helps those in addiction recovery.
Become a foster grandparent
Thrive Alliance and AmeriCorps Seniors are currently looking for foster grandparents for children.
Thrive Alliance and AmeriCorps Seniors work with public and faith-based schools, Head Start Centers and youth serving facilities in five counties, including Brown, being role models, mentors, tutors and friends.
Those interested should call 812-374-2711, 812-372-6918, or visit fostergrandparentsthrive.org.
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.
