COMMUNITY CALENDAR: Support group meets for grieving parents; Annual gala benefiting school athletics this week; Library has ongoing events

Support group meets for grieving parents

Compassionate Friends meets once a month to provide adults with concerns about having lost a child for whatever reason. Whether your child died last week or more than 20 years ago, this group provides participants with an opportunity to share feelings, insights or just ask questions about the grieving process. The monthly agenda for the gathering is largely guided by the wishes of those present at the meeting.

Meetings are held at the Nashville United Methodist Church, 36 S. Jefferson St. The next meeting will be Tuesday, March 21 at 6:30 p.m.

Boosters Club plans annual gala

The Brown County High School Athletics Booster Club will host its annual gala on Saturday, March 25, 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., at Hard Truth Distilling Co., 418 Old State Road 46.

The community is invited to come together in supporting of children and local school athletics.

Join for a silent auction, cocktail hour, dinner and dancing. All proceeds and donations will go directly to the Brown County Boosters Club, which supports all athletic programs at Brown County High School.

Tickets are $50 per person and can be purchased by visiting www.eventbrite.com and searching “Brown County Booster Club.”

Support nonprofit at night of art

All are invited to Bona Dea An Evening of Music, Art and Poetry: Celebrating Women on Saturday, March 25, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Harmony Tree Resorts, 1292 State Road 135 South.

There will be poetry, art and music with a silent auction benefiting the Silver Linings Women’s Shelter.

Updates set for legislative sessions

Three nonpartisan legislative updates will be held during this year’s Indiana General Assembly.

The virtual updates are co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters Brown County, League of Women Voters Bloomington-Monroe County, Brown County Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce.

At the updates, state legislators are asked to provide introductory remarks on their priorities for the current session of the Indiana General Assembly. Each legislator is given 10 minutes for these opening statements. Then audience questions are posed, rotating the order of legislator responses.

These updates are intended to be informative, not debates.

Please join the conversation. All state legislators who represent a portion of Brown County and Monroe County are invited, including Indiana State Representatives Bob Heaton, Dist. 46, Peggy Mayfield, Dist. 60, Matt Pierce, Dist. 61 and Dave Hall, Dist. 62.

Indiana State Senators Eric Koch, Dist. 44 and Shelli Yoder, Dist. 40 are also invited.

Register online for these virtual events at the links below. Once registered, you will receive an email with a Zoom link to join the meetings. All meetings are held at 9:30 a.m.

Saturday, April 15 update: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMufuCspjwpHdbQokWvRZEiIpiQSJymMtSt

Upcoming events at the library

The Brown County Public Library, 205 Locust Lane, has upcoming events on its calendar for visitors of all ages.

Monday Morning Storytime meets March 27, April 3, 10, 17 , and 24 at 10:30 a.m. Stories, songs, rhymes and crafts for kids 6 and under with their caregivers.

Tolkien Reading Day will be Saturday, March 25. Celebrate the works of J.R.R. Tolkien! The Tolkien Reading Room will be open all day in the lower level meeting rooms. Drop in for Tolkien fun activities and crafts, read some books and share your favorite passages. Afternoon Tea will be served from 1 to 3 p.m. Everyone is welcome.

We Dance to Live! Performance by Indiana University African American Dance Company will be Friday, March 30 at 6 p.m., Join us at the Library for a free performance by the African American Dance Company. Experience movement traditions and dance forms of the African diaspora and African American culture. All ages are welcome. Registration is requested, but walk-ins will be welcomed ad space allows.

ATLAS: At the Library After School meets on Wednesday, April 5, 12, 19 and 26 from 3:15 to 5 p.m. Hang time, games, crafts and snacks for kids and teens grades ages to 6 to 12.

LEGO Club will meet Saturday, April 8 from 1 to 3 p.m. Drop in and show off LEGO skills.

Meet Princesses and Superheroes, Saturday, April 8 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Kids can meet and hang out with their favorite superheroes and princesses.

Open Play and Family Literacy will be Friday, April 7 at 10:30 a.m. Open play for kids ages 0-6 and early literacy tips for adults.

Games 4 a Change: Teen Game Night will be Monday, April 3 from 3 to 5 p.m. Teens in grades 6-12 can drop in for board, card and collaborative games.

Paper Play: Mini Accordion Folder will be Monday, April 3 from 2 to 3 p.m. An afternoon of paper crafting for adults. All tools and materials supplied to make your own mini accordion folders, perfect for holding teas, gift cards and more.

Create a Meal: Meal Planning will be Tuesday, April 4 at 5:30 p.m. Learn how meal planning can help simplify your life and make the most of your food budget. You will get to sample tasty food and get to take home easy to prepare recipes, while learning tips for healthy eating on a budget. For adults and accompanied teens 13 and older. Registration requested. Presented by the Purdue Extension Nutrition Education Program

Jamie Ward: Author Visit and Book Signing will be Thursday, April 6 at 6 p.m., Indiana author Jamie Ward shows you the Hoosier State as you’ve never seen it before. Her latest book, 100 Things to Do in Indiana Before You Die, guides you through all of the best places with tips only a native to Indiana would know. Find new adventures in your own state as Ward shares her discoveries. Books will be available for purchase. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library. An RSVP is helpful but walk-ins are welcome.

Harp Start Live Harp Performance, will be Thursday, April 6 at 11 a.m., Gather by the upstairs fireplace and learn about this unique instrument followed by a live performance. All ages welcome. Presented by USA International Harp Competition.

Free Tax Preparation is happening at the library through April 12. The library is once again partnering with United Way of Monroe County to offer free basic state and federal tax preparation to qualified Brown County residents. Residents may stop by or call the library to see if they qualify. Once qualified, participants will receive a packet of information to complete and return to the library. Certified volunteer tax preparers will complete the returns and schedule in-person appointments with taxpayers when their tax returns are ready for review and pick up. To see if you qualify for free tax preparation, visit BrownCountyLibrary.info/freetaxprep.

For program details and registration visit BrownCountyLibrary.info/events or call the library at 812-988-2850.

Motorcycle, car, truck show coming

Nashville #135 Annual Car, Truck, Jeep, and Motorcycle Show will be Saturday, June 17 at the Nashville Masonic Lodge, 19 Artist Drive. Registration is from 9 a.m. to noon.

There will be “People’s Choice Judging” classes, activities, door prizes, music and on-site food. Trophies will be awarded at 3 p.m. Contestants must be present to win.

For additional information or pre-registration contact, call or text Matt Willoughby at 812-801-6329 or email [email protected]

Foster grandparent signups now open

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.

Bible studies ongoing in county

Community Bible Study is an in-depth, caring Bible study for all people. The Brown County Remote Core Group is connected to the Bloomington Class and the greater international community around the world. We meet from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Chapel at Cornerstone Inn, 54 East Franklin St, Nashville. We are currently studying 1 and 2 Peter until May 2. Then we will break for the summer and resume mid-September. Anyone is welcome to visit on any Tuesday evening.

For more information, visit www.communitybiblestudy.org or contact Mike Heil at 605-660-8250 or [email protected]

Men’s Fellowship at East Columbus Christian Church at 6:30 p.m. on March 28th.

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.

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.