Have breakfast with legislators Feb. 16
The public can meet and talk with state-level elected officials at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 16 at the Brown County Playhouse, 70 S. Van Buren St.
Sen. Eric Koch (R-Bedford) and Rep. Chris May (R-Bedford) will be at the meeting.
Hosted by the Brown County Veterans Coalition and The Playhouse, the event will be the first in a series of three “town hall”-type community forums planned this year.
Internet safety class planned in February
Ryan Ridge will present a free tutorial on how to protect yourself online from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19 at the Brown County Public Library. For more information, visit browncountylibrary.info, stop in at the library, 205 Locust Lane, or call 812-988-2850.
Get free tax preparation through local library
The United Way of Monroe County is extending its Free Community Tax Service sites to include the Brown County Public Library now through Thursday, April 4.
Volunteers certified by the Internal Revenue Service are offering free tax preparation at 11 locations in Monroe, Owen and Brown counties. This service is available to low- and moderate-income residents for federal and Indiana taxes.
The Brown County library is an intake site; tax returns will be prepared remotely. To participate in this free service, an appointment is needed. Times are offered between 9 a.m. and noon. Call 812-988-2850 to get one.
In addition, anyone making $66,000 or less can file for free through the internet at myfreetaxes.com, the United Way reports.
For more information about how to utilize these services, call the number above or visit monroeunitedway.org/freetaxes.
Fourth Wednesday discussion group topics set
“Hope for the best; prepare for the worst, continuing discussions on emergency preparedness” will be the topic when the adult fourth Wednesday discussion group meets at 1 p.m. Feb. 27 at the Brown County Public Library.
The group meets each month for about 90 minutes to discuss pre-selected topics designed to foster conversation, companionship and laughter. “Reflection: A discussion of how personal and societal expectations have changed from generation to generation” is the topic slated for March 27.
For more information, stop by the library at 205 Locust Lane or call 812-988-2850.
Maple syrup festival coming to county March 2
STORY — Story Inn will host the National Maple Syrup Festival Saturday, March 2.
Events will run from 10 a.m. to 5p.m. featuring Native American, early French American and modern day sugaring demonstrations; Indiana artisans; local beer, wine and maple, food and spirits sampling; local music and food trucks.
Story Inn will serve a made-from-scratch, all-you-can-eat pancake buffet from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for $5 per person.
Festival gates will open at noon and all booths will close at 5 p.m. Parking is free.
After the festival, a four-course maple dinner will be served at 6 p.m. in the restaurant. Every course will include an adult beverage and Tim Burton will talk about “all things maple.”
For more information or reservations, call the inn at 811-988-2273.
Learn how to tap maple trees at ‘sap school’
The Brown County Visitors Center will offer “sap school” Saturday, March 2, during National Maple Syrup Festival weekend.
The event will start at 10 a.m. at the Visitors Center, 211 S. Van Buren St., with a “quick chat” to learn the basics of maple syrup making; then, the group will walk downtown to learn how to identify maple trees and see a tree get tapped.
This is a free event. It is expected to last about an hour. Afterward, tour participants are encouraged to visit local restaurants participating in “Maple on the Menu” to enjoy a sweet or savory maple dish, or check out the syrup festival events at Story Inn.
For more information, call the Visitors Center at 812-988-7303.
River revival is subject of conservation program
The Brown County Soil and Water Conservation District’s annual meeting will start at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 7 at the Brown County History Center, 90 E. Gould St. The evening will include district updates, the swearing in of new supervisors, a soup dinner, keynote speaker Brad Smith of the Nature Conservancy, and door prizes.
The theme of the meeting is “Reviving Indiana’s Rivers.”
Tickets are $5 in advance or $8 at the door. To make a reservation, call 812-988-2211 or email [email protected] by Monday, March 4.
Donate items for silent auction to benefit BETA
BETA (Brown County Enrichment for Teens Association Inc.) is looking for donated items for a silent auction at the Brown County Youth Music Showcase.
The showcase, featuring local youth musicians, will begin at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 9 at the Brown County Playhouse. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. for the silent auction, which benefits BETA.
Auction donations can be dropped off at Farmers Insurance/Christina McGinley Agency, 145 S. Jefferson St., on weekdays. For more information, contact Clara Stanley at 312-310-3617 or [email protected].
Local game convention planned in March
BroCoCon, Brown County’s first game convention, is planned from Friday to Sunday, March 29 to 31 at the Brown County Inn, 51 State Road 46 East.
The event, hosted by The Toy Chest is intended to be family- and adult-friendly; adults are welcome with or without children.
The convention will include booths set up by category and vendor to learn, play and/or buy games, with popular strategy, family, party and toddler games available.
Game instruction will be provided, with time to learn and play new games, get instruction on strategy games, participate in a scavenger hunt around town and enjoy a 21-and-older after-party, as well as other activities.
BroCoCon tickets cost $10 per adult and $5 per child, with 2 and younger admitted free. The adult after-party, $10, includes a drink ticket. Fees of about $1.50 per ticket will be added.
For more information, visit BroCoCon on Facebook, stop by The Toy Chest, 125 S. Van Buren St., or call 812-988-2817.
Library plant sale to take place in April
Four community groups will combine to sell plants at the Brown County Public Library Friday, April 26 and Saturday, April 27.
Favorite perennials, native plants and “some surprises” will be sold from 2 to 6 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday from Brown County gardens and area nurseries. All proceeds support the library and the ravine project.
The sale is being organized Friends of the Brown County Public Library, the Brown County Soil and Water Conservation District, SEED Brown County and the Brown County Herb Society.
History programs for children slated
The Hands on History program, for children ages 8 to 12, will take place monthly on Thursdays at the Brown County History Center as follows: April 18, May 16, June 20, July 18, Aug. 15, Sept. 29 and Oct. 24.
The program enables children to engage in many of the day-to-day activities experienced by children living in pioneer times. Activities take place from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Pioneer Village and the History Center, 90 E. Gould St.
Participation costs $5 per child. To register, call Kathy Sparks at 812-988-2377 or visit browncountyhistorycenter.org for a registration form.
Spring Blossom Parade steps off May 4
The 56th annual Spring Blossom Parade will step off at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 4 from the Brown County High School parking lot.
The registration deadline is April 15. There is no entry fee to participate. With questions, call Gene at 812-988-6865.
The parade is sponsored by the Brown County Lions Club. This year’s theme is “Brown County Blooms.”
Farm will offer locally-grown produce
BELMONT — Community Supported Agriculture memberships for this growing year are being accepted at Schooner Creek Farm.
Each member gets baskets of locally-grown produce each Tuesday from May 7 through Sept. 24. The 21 baskets or “shares” will contain a medley of produce designed for two to four people. A membership costs $625 for the season.
A variety of vegetables and herbs will be grown, such as heirloom tomatoes, Romaine lettuce, shallots, kale, onions, green beans, carrots, zucchini, basil and more. Substitutions in baskets are allowed only in the case of food allergies. Members can stop by the farm, 4 miles from Nashville, to pick up each week’s share.
The farm has used natural, chemical-free methods to grow food since its start in 2011. Non-GMO eggs are also sold sale. For more information, visit schoonercreekfarm.org, @schoonercreekfarmpage on Facebook or email [email protected].
Electronics day, shredding offered at recycle center
The Brown County Recycling Center will offer electronic recycling from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 18 at the “far back” side of the Brown County Solid Waste Management District property. The center is off Greasy Creek Road near the intersection at Old State Road 46 East.
Televisions and computer monitors will be accepted for $20 each.
From 9 a.m. to noon May 18, the center also will shred paper documents at the front of the property, at 176 Old State Road 46 East.
Dawg Gone Walk, Fiesta planned in May
At the annual Dawg Gone Walk and Fiesta from noon to 2:30 p.m. Sunday, May 19, dogs and their owners can take part in games, contests, pampering stations, information booths and shopping at Deer Run Park.
Funds raised will go directly to the feeding and care of homeless pets at the Brown County Humane Society animal shelter, thus helping maintain and improve its 98-percent save rate.
Tickets will be $15 per dog from March 20 to May 14; after that, tickets will cost $20 each. A goody bag worth up to $50 will be given to the first 125 to register.
For more information or to sign up, visit bchumane.org/dawg-gone-walk-fiesta or call 812- 988-7362.
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.
