Upcoming events at the library
The Brown County Public Library, 205 Locust Lane, has upcoming events on its calendar for visitors of all ages.
LEGO Club, Saturday, May 20 from 1 to 3 p.m. and Monday, May 22 from 5 to 7 p.m. Drop in and show off your LEGO skills and collaborate with other LEGO builders.
Pre-K Days: Words &Wiggles, Friday, May 26 at 10:30 a.m., Creative movement and dance followed by open play time. For kids ages 0-6. Registration requested.
Fairy Storytime and Fairy House Building, Saturday, May 20 at 11 a.m., Join Miss Samantha for a special fairy storytime followed by a fairy house session led by the Nature Explorers Club. Registration requested.
Rhythm Fun Workshop, Friday, May 19 at 11 a.m. From spoons to washboards and everything in between, Traditional Arts Indiana artist and idiophonist Bill Bailey will demonstrate how he makes and plays his homemade percussion instruments. Audience participation is encouraged. All ages are welcome. Funded by a grant from Traditional Arts Indiana. Registration requested.
First Time Homebuyer Workshop, Thursday, May 18 at 6 p.m. Learn about the home buying process from pre-approval to getting the keys to your new home including types of loans, loan programs and first time home buyer benefits. Presented by Seth Wilcock of Draper and Kramer Mortgage Co. Registration requested.
Monday Morning Storytime meets Tuesday, May 30 at 10:30 a.m. Stories, songs, rhymes and crafts for kids 6 and under with their caregivers.
Novel Bunch Book Club, Wednesday, May 17 at 2 p.m., Join the discussion of Annie Dillard’s “Pilgrim at Tinker Creek.”
BCPL Craft Club: Junk Journal Folios, Wednesday, May 31 at 6 p.m., Make a travel-sized journal using recycled items and decorator papers. All materials and tools are supplied. For adults and teens 13 and older. Registration requested.
Cordry-Sweetwater Branch Programs
CSW Bookies Book Club, Wednesday, May 17 at 6:30 p.m. at CSW Branch Library, Join the discussion of “Mad Honey” by Jodi Picoult.
CSW Crafters: Self Care Crafts, Tuesday, May 23 from 2 to 4 p.m., at CSW Branch Library, All Ages Craft Night. Make your own self care treats like soaking salts, bath bombs, sensory bottles and cloud dough. Registration requested.
Holiday Hours — The Library will be closed, Monday, May 29 for Memorial Day.
Teacher appreciation concert scheduled
Brown County PTO Council will hold its third annual Teacher Appreciation Concert on Thursday, May 18 at 5 p.m. at Brown County High School Auditorium, 235 Schoolhouse Lane.
Dinner will start at 4 p.m. at Brown County High School cafeteria to serve teachers and staff with food donated by local businesses and concert will start at 5 p.m. in the auditorium. Dinner and Concert are open to the public and donations are accepted. This concert will also especially honor retiring teachers and staff. Alayna Jacobus, Tom Brown, Kurt &Margie Young, Mike Bube, Bob Wilsey, John Wietlishbach, Noel Pryzybyla, Allison Suse-Michel, Connie Shakalis, Sally Gaskil, Mary Reardon, Zachary Reed, Mr. Daniel Webb, Mrs. Jenna Sears and her Brown County High &Middle School choir students and Mr. Brian Galm as an emcee are featured.
Hard Truths Big Woods, Brown County Inn, Salt Creek Golf Retreat, Brozinni, BP Gas, Johnny’s Grub To Go, Casa Del Sol &IGA will be providing dinner and drinks for the event, and many local businesses are donating gifts or funds including 7P Solutions, Dr. Jessica Wagers Eye Clinic, Wanda Jones Law Office, Park &Recreation, Brown County YMCA, Our Sandwich Place, Chocolate Moose, The Wild Olive, Daily
Grind, Brown Coffee, Heritage Candy Store, Ann Woods, Brownie’s Family Restaurant, Sweeteas, Nashville Spice Company, Furniture Deco &More, The mercantile Store, Bali Makasih, Hope for Hearts
Horse Farm, Heavenly Biscuits, Toy Chest, Kith &Kindred, Evergreen, Helmsburg General Store, Simply 4 You, Explore Brown County, Reynolds Leather &Gifts, Mulberry Cottage, JB Goods, Sorabinti, Brown County Art Guild, Country Heritage Winery, Mary Ann Sol DoTERRA, Beth Drew Mary Kay, Allison Braden NeoLife, Mandy Kay doTERRA, Stephanie Cox Melaleuca, Brad Cox, Too Cute at Abe’s Corner, Terry Sanders Creative Style, The Educated Otter, Rivers and Roads Ceramics, and Touch of Silver and Gold, to boost the spirits of our teachers and staff.
If you would like to perform for the concert please contact Clara Stanley, 312-310-3617 or email [email protected].
If you are looking to volunteer, donate food, or provide gifts for teachers and staff please contact one of the school’s PTO presidents:
Lorna Reichmann (Helmsburg Elementary School PTO President), [email protected]; Heather Sawyer (Van Buren Elementary School PTO President), [email protected]; Lauren McKinney (Sprunica Elementary School PTO President), [email protected]; Kimberly Spencer (Brown County Middle School PTO President), [email protected].
Memorial Day ceremony planned
Brown County Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6195 will host the annual Memorial Day ceremony at the Brown County Courthouse later this month.
The event is to honor those who have served and passed. The ceremony will be held on Monday, May 29 from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Brown County Courthouse, 20 E. Main St.
On Saturday, May 27 the Brown County VFW Post 6195 will hand out Buddy Poppies from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Brown County IGA on Hawthorne Drive, at the courthouse corner and at the Four Corners intersection of Main and Jefferson streets.
Donations are greatly appreciated. All proceeds from the Buddy Poppies will support VFW projects in Brown County.
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]
Support group meets for grieving parents
Even though the grieving process one goes through when losing a child doesn’t take a break, the South Central Indiana Chapter of Compassionate Friends will not be holding their regular meetings at the NUMC for the next 2 or 3 months. Should you experience a loss and need to talk with someone, please contact Chris Kraft, Shirley Drake or Bill Schnackel. The chapter will announce the continuation of meetings in the BC Democrat once details are finalized.
Have questions? Please contact: Bill Schnackel, 765-490-0789, [email protected]; Chris Kraft, 815-814-8138, [email protected]; or Shirley Drake Jordan, 386-559-1030, [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.
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.
Blood drive set later this month
Nashville Masonic Lodge #135, 19 Artist Dr., will have its Annual Blood Drive, Saturday May 20, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
To sign up visit: donate.indiana.versiti.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/160519
Project Lifesaver taking applications
Are you concerned about a loved one who may wander from home?
Project Lifesaver International, founded in 1999, is a private not-for-profit organization, working with search and rescue teams nationwide.
TRIAD was awarded a grant from the Brown County Community Foundation in 2021, to partner with our local sheriff’s department, to bring this training and technology to Brown County.
Individuals in the program wear a personalized, wrist-watch sized radio transmitter that allows first responders to rapidly locate them. The sheriff’s department has received the training on how to operate the tracking equipment. Additionally, the sheriff’s department has added drone technology, which can aid in rapidly covering difficult ground.
The sheriff’s department has also received specialized training on ways to address behavioral and communication challenges specific to people with a variety of cognitive conditions. This training is a bridge critical to gaining the person’s trust and facilitating a safe return home.
The cost of the program is borne by the sheriff’s department, TRIAD, and as affordable, to individual families. The foundation grants, of which three were received, offset the cost of the program to individuals, either in part or in full. We do no means testing, but let families choose their level of financial ability. The program is completely voluntary and one can enter or exit the program at any time.
To get more information, please call TRIAD, at 812-988-0109 and leave a message.
TRIAD reports volunteer work
TRIAD — The Right Information and Direction, or TRIAD — is a group of senior volunteers working through the Brown County Sheriff’s Department. During the first quarter 2023, our TRIAD volunteers visited 155 households accumulating a total of 559 hours and 1862 personal miles.
Since this is a new year, we want to review for the community what TRIAD is and what it does:
TRIAD is a group of community volunteers providing a link between the Sheriff’s Office and the community. The program provides support, primarily social, to senior citizens and/or the disabled.
The Sheriff’s Office has long supported TRIAD as a valuable periodic contact with the County’s citizens. Each TRIAD volunteer has undergone a background check and six months of on-the-road training, and is deputized. We visit homes in uniform, using marked TRIAD vehicles.
TRIAD volunteers are primarily retired people who now have the time and desire to give back to their community. We are not paid, but find joy and meaning in the service we can provide and the friendships that develop from our visits. TRIAD is always looking for more such volunteers.
The primary mission and activity of TRIAD of Brown County is periodic home visits, a friendly chat, a check on well- being, an opportunity to see if there is some special need. Many of those we visit are home bound, or are recovering from a bereavement or a medical crisis. Some do not have family nearby who can visit.
Additionally, TRIAD does the following for those whom we visit or have visited: Annual community picnic for them and their families and care givers.
Provides a Christmas activity and/or food box as a gift, and sends out birthday cards.
Delivers Thanksgiving meals to our clients and others.
Works with regional food banks to get food to some of the more needy.
Has light medical equipment for loan – canes, shower seats, toilet risers, etc.
Installs green reflective address signs (“911 signs”) for those who want one.
Distributes (and tests) smoke detectors and provides replacement batteries.
Provides warnings about current frauds and scams, especially those that target the elderly.
Provides “File of Life” packets, used to alert EMTs to current medical information.
Visits those who are now resident in Brown County Health and Living Center or are hospitalized.
Attends viewings and/or funeral services as possible.
