Youth program meets Wednesdays at Baptist church
HAMBLEN TWP. — A program for children and teens at Unity Baptist Church begins with a meal served at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
For children ages 4 through high school, the Word of Life program includes a singing challenge, Scripture memorization and study, socializing and games. With an emphasis on “foundational truths from the Bible,” the program meets weekly through the school year at the church, 7361 Sprunica Road.
With questions, call Program Director Terry Sisson at 812-720-0299.
Support Habitat with pledge hike Saturday
Brown County Habitat for Humanity’s Hike Humanity will start at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 23 at the Nashville Christian Church. Teams or individuals are asked to college donations to support Habitat and walk through the town. The group with the most donations wins the “Golden Boot” award. Lunch will be served to all hikers.
BucCornEar festival events take place this week
HELMSBURG — The Jackson Township Fire Department, 4831 Helmsburg Road, will host its sixth annual BucCornEar Festival from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23.
For those interested in volunteering at the festival, a training session is planned for 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 20. If unable to attend, inform a JTFD member, stop by or call the station at 812-988-6201.
No admission is charged for the family-friendly event, which celebrates pirates, popcorn and fire prevention while raising money for the volunteer fire department’s community education and training programs.
Firefighters will be in pirate attire, and photo ops to meet Smoky Bear and Sparky the Fire Dog will also be available. A live power line demonstration and house burn are also planned. Carnival games, contests and challenges will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Biscuits and gravy will be sold from 8 to 10 a.m., plus hot dogs and coney dogs, pulled pork, baked beans, cheesy macaroni, assorted chips, drinks and ice cream.
For more information, email [email protected], visit facebook.com/jtfd5inc or call the station at 812-988-6201.
Firefighters plan fish fries this fall
BEAN BLOSSOM — The Fruitdale volunteer fire department, 5200 State Road 135 North, will host fish fries from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays, Sept. 23 and Oct. 14.
For $9, diners can get meals including tenderloins “as big as your head,” hot dogs, french fries, onion rings, beverages, fish and fish sandwiches.
Youth poets, writers welcome at BETA group
A new youth writing group is organizing through Brown County Enrichment for Teens Association (BETA).
The Emerging Poets and Writers group will meet Thursdays after school from 3:15 to 4:30 p.m. at the BETA center, upstairs from Hoosier Art Gallery, 45 S. Jefferson St.
For more information, email facilitator Lory Winford at [email protected].
Community band welcomes new director
The Brown County Community Band has resumed practice under a new director, Shawn Bentz.
The 2017-18 concert season kicks off with the 18th anniversary concert Oct. 7 and includes a Christmas concert Dec. 9, the annual Habitat for Humanity concert May 12, and the annual Sweetwater Homeowner’s Association concert June 23. All concert dates are Saturdays.
The band can always use additional members, young and old. Practices take place in the Brown County High School band room from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursdays.
Applications open for conservation mini-grants
The Brown County Soil and Water Conservation District is accepting applications for grants up to $3,500 for projects that enhance or educate people about natural resources and/or water quality.
Grants will be awarded to private landowners and local organizations on a first-come, first-served basis with costs shared 50/50. Plans for the project should be included with the application.
Applications are due by Friday, Sept. 22. Those who qualify will be asked to present proposals to the BCSWCD board. After all presentations, the board will determine the impact of each project on the county’s natural resources.
Best management practices that control erosion, enhance water quality, positively impact the land or otherwise improve natural resources are good choices for consideration.
For an application, email [email protected] or stop by the office, 802 Memorial Drive (shared with the Brown County Purdue Extension) at the fairgrounds. With questions, call the office at 812-988-2211.
Schools gathering supplies for Hurricane Harvey victims
Brown County Schools are collecting money, socks and new shoes for a school community affected by Hurricane Harvey in Texas.
Until Sept. 22, donations will be accepted at all of the school buildings to go to the Huffman Independent School District in northeast Houston, Texas.
The district has more 3,000 students from preschool to 12th grade. Many have lost all of their belongings and have been displaced from their homes due to flood damage.
Competitions are taking place in Brown County schools to see which class can collect the most donation money. At the end of September, all of the donations will be sent to Texas.
Cash and checks are being accepted from the public at all Brown County schools. Checks can be made payable to Brown County Schools with “Harvey Helpers” in the memo line.
Quilt show planned at History Center this weekend
The Pioneer Women’s Club will present the 2017 Historical Society Quilt Show from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 22 and 23, and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24.
Visitors can come all three days for one $5 entry fee. The show includes quilt displays and hand-work skill demonstrations. Salads and homemade desserts will be sold. At the end of the show, a drawing for a Christmas quilt will take place from raffle tickets purchased.
Live bands host benefit for musician at inn
The White Lightning Boys, The Hammer and The Hatchet and Slip Me 5 will perform at the Brown County Inn’s Town Hall room from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22.
The concert is a benefit for White Lightning band member Bob Adair, who has been unable to work due to health challenges. Adair is a dobro player for the band and a longtime resident of Brown County.
Food manager certification classes taught this month
The Brown County Health Department will offer a ServSafe Food Manager Certification Class on two Fridays, Sept. 22 and 29, at the County Office Building. Class will run from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sept. 22 and 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sept. 29. The test will be given around noon on the second day.
The seventh edition textbook will be used. Students who have the sixth edition can still use it; ask the instructor for a printout with changes.
All establishments that serve food, except nonprofits, are required to have a certified food handler on staff. Certification is good for five years.
The cost is $125 for the text, test and class; the test only is $50. Sitting through the class with no testing is free.
Class size is limited to 12. Call 812-988-2255 to sign up.
District candidates will meet with county voters
Candidates running for the 9th District Congressional seat in 2018 have been invited to speak with Brown County voters over the next few months.
Dan Canon will be at a free breakfast, open to the public, beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 23 at the Brown County Public Library. A lawyer from new Albany, Canon has an interest in human rights. To learn more, visit CanonforIndiana.com.
Liz Watson will be in Brown County Saturday, Oct. 21. Watson, from Bloomington, teaches law and policy courses at Indiana University. To learn more, visit LizforIndiana.com.
Other invited candidates include incumbent Trey Hollingsworth (hollingsworth.house.gov), Tod Curtis (CurtisforCongress.org) and Tom Pappas (tomkpappas.com).
Meetings are sponsored by Brown County Indivisible Common Ground, a group “working for a progressive democracy through positive political action.” With more than 90 members, the group has been calling or writing to state legislators and members of Congress on such issues as social justice, health care, environmental protection, facilitation of voting, gun safety and taxes.
Helmsburg clean-up day planned
JACKSON TWP. — A community clean-up day in Helmsburg will begin at the green space behind Helmsburg General Store at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 23.
Volunteers should bring water to drink, and bring tools to cut weeds and brush. Boots, gloves, long-sleeved shirts and long pants are advised, along with a lawn chair for the lunch break.
Sign up at the general store or call Jenny Austin at 812-988-7447.
Beginning oil painting workshop offered
Bill Hastings will teach a beginning oil painting workshop from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23. It will take place in the Howard F. Hughes Community Room on the lower level of the Brown County Community Foundation, 209 N. Van Buren St.
Class will be outdoors if weather permits.
PARTake is an art workshop series sponsored by Art Alliance Brown County. Classes are offered in watercolor, acrylic and oil painting, as well as jewelry making and other 3D art. Each student will create an original work, inspired by the area’s landscape and art culture.
The $40 fee includes all art materials, individual instruction and light refreshments. Register online at artalliancebrowncounty.org/events/38-paint-brown-county-in-oils.
Monthly magic shows appearing downtown
“Saturday Night Magic” shows will take place at 6:30 and 8 p.m. every fourth Saturday at Rich Hill’s Magic and Fun Emporium, 75 S. Jefferson St. in Antique Alley. Sept. 23 is the next show date, featuring magicians Daniel Lee, Crystal James and Rich Hill.
The family-oriented show features close-up magic and humor with different professional magicians each month. Seating is limited to 25.
Tickets are $8 per child younger than 18 and $12 per adult. For advance tickets, visit richhillmagic.com, call 812-720-7029 or stop by the shop.
Bethlehem Church hosts homecoming Sunday
JOHNSON COUNTY — Bethlehem Church and Cemetery Association will reunite Sunday Sept. 24, for homecoming at the church, at 700 South on the corner of 575 West.
A pitch-in dinner will start at 12:30 p.m. and the program will begin at 1:30 p.m.
For more information, contact Secretary Mary Jane Rose at 317-878-4969.
Youth movie, pizza, ice cream party planned
All youth are welcome to a Kids on Wheels event from 3:15 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27.
A movie will be played and pizza and ice cream will be served at the BETA Teen Center, upstairs from Hoosier Art Gallery, 45 S. Jefferson St.
With questions or to be a youth volunteer, call Emmy Snyder at 574-242-2912 or Isaiah Smith at 812-929-0596.
‘Creative aging with art’ project to start in Brown County
Traditional Arts Indiana, a state program housed at Indiana University in Bloomington, is piloting a new initiative using folk art to support and improve the quality of life for older adults in 11 counties in south-central Indiana. The first installation will be in Brown County.
Leading the two-year initiative is Brown Countian Jon Kay, the director of Traditional Arts Indiana.
“I am excited to kick off our ‘Traditional Arts and Creative Aging’ project in Brown County,” Kay said. “Over the past decade, I have interviewed so many retired fiddlers, quilters, stone carvers and other artisans, who I think have a lot to teach us about how to have a rich and vibrant life in your later years. My hope is that this project will leverage their wisdom and talents to improve the quality of life for other older adults.”
The program builds upon TAI’s foundation in folk arts research and creative aging fieldwork, and is informed by Kay’s recent book, “Folk Arts and Aging.”
The first Traditional Arts and Creative Aging public meeting will take place from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28, in rooms B and C of the Brown County Public Library. Parking is available in the lower lot at the end of East Gould Street.
Initially, TAI will interview older adults and document their creative practices. The project will also produce an arts activity guide, providing information and strategies for improving seniors’ lives through creative practice. Lastly, TAI will include a traveling exhibition for loan to public venues and agencies in the region.
For more information on TAI, call 812-855-0418.
Donate blood at local YMCA Sept. 29
Hurricane Irma has forced the cancellation of dozens of blood drives in the Southeast. The American Red Cross has a need for donations from all blood types.
The next local opportunity will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29 at the Brown County YMCA, 105 Willow St.
Make an appointment by using the Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS.
Those who donate through Saturday, Sept. 30, will receive a coupon for a free Sport Clips haircut.
Volunteers wanted for Kids on Wheels benefit
In partnership with the Nashville Police, Kids on Wheels will host a drive-through fundraiser selling barbecue pork packages for $10 and hot dog packages for $8.
Meals will be sold from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, in the Brown County IGA parking lot and down the street at the town police station, 200 Hawthorne Drive. The purpose is to raise money to build a skate/teen park.
Volunteers are welcome to work a four-hour shift at both locations, or to cook, Friday, Sept. 29 from 4 to 8 p.m. at St. Agnes Catholic Church.
To volunteer, call Colleen Smith, KOW fundraising chair, at 812-939-0160, or Clara Stanley with BETA at 312-310-3617.
History Center, Pioneer Village host fall gathering
The Fall Gathering at the Brown County History Center and Pioneer Village will include demonstrations such as blacksmithing, spinning, weaving, music, rope making, quilting, hearthside cooking and candle dipping. They’ll take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30 at the village in downtown Nashville.
A rock and mineral show will be set up in the History Center on Gould Street at the same time.
Spearsville church homecoming planned Oct. 1
SPEARSVILLE — On Sunday, Oct 1, Spearsville Church of Christ, 9330 Spearsville Road, will celebrate its annual homecoming. Services will be at 9:30 a.m. and dinner at noon, followed with special music at 1 p.m. by bluegrass gospel group Borrowed Tyme.
A freewill offering will be collected.
For more information, call Mark Smith at 317-432-8748.
Local work group needed for conservation issues
The Brown County Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors and Natural Resources Conservation Service will convene a local group to review project plans and develop questions for Focused Conservation Approach proposals.
The group is to include representatives from federal, state and local agencies, conservation organizations and the public, and it provides information on natural resource priorities in Brown County.
The SWCD local group will meet at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 4, in the Community Room at the SWCD/Purdue Extension Office, 802 Memorial Drive. For more information, call Allison Shoaf at 812-988-2211.
State park hosts live raptor programs in fall
Brown County State Park is hosting live bird shows with representatives from the Indiana Raptor Center through fall.
Saturday shows at the Nature Center will be on Oct. 7, 14 and 21, all at 2 p.m. A show at Abe Martin Lodge begins at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24.
The presentations are included with park admission.
Donations to the raptor center are welcome. For more information, call the Nature Center at 812-988-5240.
Fall celebration planned at the library
In partnership with the Brown County Literacy Coalition, the Brown County Public Library will host a fall festival in the Children’s Garden from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 8.
The free event will include music performed by Robbie Bowden and Carolyn Dutton, free books, food, stories and children’s activities. Costumes are encouraged and a prize will be awarded. In case of rain, the fall fest will move into the meeting rooms downstairs.
For more information, stop by or call the library at 812-988-2850.
Church breakfast free to community
HAMBLEN TWP. — Sprunica Baptist Church, 3902 Sprunica Road, will serve a free community breakfast from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 14.
Served the second Saturday of each month, the menu includes biscuits and gravy, rolls, eggs and more.
Foot reflexology sessions available
Simply Fitness, 59 E. Main St., will host foot massage sessions with certified reflexologist Leslie Dyar from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19.
Each 30-minute “Treat your Feet” session costs $30.
To make an appointment, visit squareup.com/store/simply-fitness or call 812-343-3560.
Seed swap, workshops, presentations at inn
The Brown County Inn, 51 State Road 46 East, will be the site of SEED Brown County’s local seed swap Saturday, Oct. 21.
Presentations and workshops will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Topics include backyard plant breeding, harvesting acorns for food, and SEED’s local food initiative.
Final practical history sessions for children set
The Brown County Historical Society’s children’s program, Hands on History, has been offered from 1 to 4 p.m. Thursdays once a month. The remaining session, about harvest, will take place Oct. 19. Children ages 8 to 12 are welcome.
Registration is required. The fee is $5 per child.
To volunteer to help with the program, call Kathy Sparks at 812-988-2377 or email [email protected]. To register online, visit browncountyhistorycenter.org.
Community harvest fest planned at church
BEAN BLOSSOM — From 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, Bean Blossom Community Church on State Road 135 North will host a free harvest festival. All are welcome at the event that includes food, games, music and more.
For more information, visit beanblossomchurch.com/harvest-fest or call 812-988-7359.
Trap shoot to benefit Shrine hospitals
The ninth annual Brown County Shrine Club Trap and Still Board Shoot will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28 at Pittman Farms, 6088 State Road 46 East. It will raise money for Shrine hospitals. Food will be sold.
For more information, call 484-888-3622.
Firefighters host annual turkey shoot
BEAN BLOSSOM — Fruitdale Volunteer Fire, 5200 State Road 135 North, will host a turkey shoot at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 4.
Guns can be 12 or 20 gauge, with a 32-inch barrel limit. The cost is $5 per shoot. Prizes include a 50/50 money shoot, turkey, ham and bacon.
Concessions and facilities will be available on site.
For more information, call 812-322-8865 or 812-988-1696.
Chocolate walk to benefit animal shelter
From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, the Brown County Humane Society will conduct its annual Chocolate Walk downtown.
Get tickets online in advance at bchumane.org.
Craft, antique bazaar planned at History Center
The third annual Abe Martin Village Bazaar is planned from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11. It’s hosted by the Brown County Historical Society.
Items will include ceramics, art, gifts, antiques and other goods.
Free legal clinic planned at public library
Legal Aid, a nonprofit agency, will host a free legal aid clinic from 3 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 14 at the Brown County Public Library.
People who attend will receive a 10-minute consultation to answer general questions, offer legal information or to receive other limited assistance or advice. There is no need to register in advance.
Legal Aid provides free civil legal services, lawyer referrals and domestic violence-related legal representation to low-income individuals in Bartholomew, Brown, Decatur, Jackson, Jennings, Johnson, Rush and Shelby counties.
With questions, contact Legal Aid staff attorney/referral director Kelly Baer at 812-314-2720.
Bluebird nest box kits for sale
The Brown County Bluebird Club is selling cedar bluebird nest boxes for $15 each or two for $25 to raise money for the club. Email Dan Sparks at [email protected] or call 812-200-5700.
Book-a-Librarian service offered
Individuals or small groups can make an appointment with a Brown County Public Library librarian through the free Book-a-Librarian service. Sessions are limited to 30 to 60 minutes and are best used for instruction on how to use the library catalog, databases, digital resources and the Internet. Call 812-988-2850 for an appointment.
Training for a community food emergency offered
The Terrorism and All Hazards Preparedness Committee of the Indiana Environmental Health Association will sponsor free training in “Managing Food Emergencies; Strategies for a Community Response.”
Training will take place at the Brown County Office Building, 201 Locust Lane, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 14 and 15. There is no charge to attend, but participants must register.
The course is designed to help communities develop a plan to effectively deal with a large food emergency. Training will include realizing when you need help, figuring out what resources are needed and where to get them, developing a plan to get a response, how agencies interact and who to contact.
Participants from agriculture, emergency management, EMS, fire service, law enforcement, veterinarians, laboratory, private food sector managers and public health employees are encouraged to attend.
The course will be taught by the National Center for Biomedical Research and Training of Louisiana State University under the NCBRT Homeland Security National Training Program.
To register, contact Jennifer Rugenstein at the Brown County Health Department at 812-988-2255.
Steele’s Country Christmas celebration planned
BELMONT — T.C. Steele State Historic Site will open a decorated Studio to friends and neighbors for its annual holiday celebration, Steeles’ Country Christmas.
From 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3, children and families can visit and get photos with St. Nicholas and Belsnickel, make a Christmas card, decorate an ornament and hear a holiday music program. Cookies and mulled cider will be served.
The event is free with regular site admission and includes a tour of the historic buildings. Families can receive a special discount rate. Members of the Indiana State Museum and the Friends of T.C. Steele are admitted free.
For more information, visit tcsteele.org/programs or call 812-988-2785.
