Blood donations needed during winter
The American Red Cross will host a blood drive at Parkview Church of the Nazarene, 1750 State Road 46 East, on Wednesday, Jan. 29 from 2 to 7 p.m.
With influenza escalating across the country and preventing some donors from giving, and winter weather threatening to cancel blood drives, the Red Cross now has a critical shortage of type O blood and urgently needs donations to restock. Donors of all blood types — especially types O positive and O negative — are urged to make an appointment to give blood or platelets now using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
Free workshops to be offered at library
The Brown County Public Library, 205 Locust Lane, will offer a variety of workshops, classes and more this winter.
Visit the library on Saturday, Feb. 1 from 2 to 4 p.m. for “Hearts Galore!” Meet with local artist Nancy Goddard to make cards, decorations and other crafts for Valentine’s Day. The program is free; participants must register in advance.
Programs specifically for children are:
- Sparks Kids, explore and create using a variety of materials, for children 6 and younger, Friday, Jan. 31 10 a.m.
- Creative Builders, for ages 11 and younger, building fun, Tuesdays, Jan. 28, Feb. 4, 11 and 18 at 10 a.m.
- Afternoon Storytime, for ages 6 and younger, stories, rhymes and songs, Tuesdays, Jan. 28, Feb. 4, 11 and 18, 5 to 5:30 p.m.
- Ready Readers, for ages 6 to 11, kids practice their reading skills while exploring the world around them and sharing with each other, Thursdays, Jan. 30, Feb. 6, 13 and 20 at 2:30 p.m.
- Kids Crafternoon, for ages 11 and younger, short creative craft program, Thursdays, Jan. 30, Feb. 6, 13 and 20 at 2:30 p.m.
- Storytime/Playtime, for children 6 and younger, a short storytime followed by free play fun, Mondays Feb. 3, 10 and 17 at 11 a.m.
For more information, call the library at 812-988-2850.
Discussion about regional food economy
BEDFORD — The IU Center for Rural Engagement and IU Sustainable Food Systems Science will host a conference on Thursday, Jan. 30 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the StoneGate Arts and Education Center, 931 15th St. in Bedford. The conference is designed to bring practitioners together from different economic and community food sectors to learn and share interests in developing a regional food economy.
The Appalachian Center for Economic Networks will present and lead discussions on how they have successfully built a rural, regional food economy in Ohio.
The cost is $10 and includes a continental breakfast, lunch, afternoon desserts and snacks, attendance at all sessions and one-on-one consulting with presenters. Visit rural.iu.edu for more information.
History center to host summer camp
The Brown County Historical Society will have a Hands on History Summer Camp, Monday to Friday, June 22 to 26 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for children ages 8 to 12. It will take place at the Pioneer Village, Owl Creek Schoolhouse and the Brown County History Center, 90 E. Gould St.
Children will get to learn about puppetry, pioneer household chores, cooking, textiles, art and storytelling.
The cost is $50 per child and includes a T-shirt and reusable water bottle. Registration is limited to 24 campers. Each child will need to bring a sack lunch; a snack will be provided.
To register, visit browncountyhistorycenter.org and click the children’s programs tab to find the registration form. Print out the form and send to Brown County History Center, P.O. Box 668, Nashville, IN 47448. For more information, call 812-988-2377.
Bloomington Farmers Market seeking proposals
BLOOMINGTON — The Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department is seeking proposals from local businesses, organizations and individuals to manage all aspects of food and beverage artisan stands, or food truck/push cart vending stands, at the Bloomington Community Farmers Market on Saturday mornings during the 2020 market season.
The farmers Market happens Saturdays in downtown Bloomington from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. April 4 through Sept. 26, and from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Oct. 3 through Nov. 21. Most food and beverage artisans are set up on the Farmers Market Plaza on the B-Line Trail. Most food truck and push cart vendors are on Eighth Street west of the B-Line Trail.
To select the food and beverage artisans and food truck/push cart vendors that will best serve the market, the city uses a request for proposal (RFP) process. Proposals will be evaluated by a review committee using the criteria established in the RFP including menu, price, product balance, customer satisfaction, use of local products, and location of business, with preference given to businesses in Bloomington.
Forms and a link to the online RFP are available online at bloomington.in.gov/farmersmarket. All online and hard copy RFPs must be submitted by 5 p.m. Feb. 3. Late proposals will not be accepted.
For more information, contact Marcia Veldman, farmers market coordinator, at 812-349-3738 or [email protected].
Have you ever played a musical instrument?
The Brown County Community Band will begin practicing Thursday nights beginning Feb. 6 in the Brown County High School band room, 235 Schoolhouse Lane. Rehearsals are from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Upcoming performances include a benefit concert for Habitat for Humanity in May and performances at the Brown County Playhouse and at Sweetwater Lake in June.
BCCB takes the summer off and begins rehearsals for the fall and winter concerts in August.
For more information, contact Bill Schnackel at 765-490-0789 or [email protected].
Local inn to host women’s Bible study
A new community women’s Bible study is being offered by Laura Stuart and Deeper Truth Ministries. “Unexplainable Jesus: Rediscovering the God you thought you knew” by Erica Wiggenhorn will begin Tuesday, Feb. 11 at 1 p.m. in the lower conference room of Cornerstone Inn, 54 E. Franklin St.
The study will run each Tuesday for eight weeks, ending on March 31.
For more information, contact Stuart at 812-720-0556 or [email protected].
Annual cemetery meeting set for February
MORGANTOWN — The East Hill Cemetery annual meeting will be Wednesday, Feb. 12 at 4 p.m. at the Morgantown Community Center, 269 W. Washington St. The public is welcome to attend.
Many activities scheduled at local goat farm
BELMONT — The Goat Conspiracy, 6022 Kent Road, will host a soap-making workshop on Sunday, Feb. 16 from 1 to 4:30 p.m.
Participants will be able to make a batch of soap, leaving with five bars, and finish the day with a glass of wine. Those interested will also be able to tour the farm and meet some of the goats.
The cost is $75 and registration is required.
“Let’s Talk about Raising Goats” will be Sunday, Feb. 23, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. This introduction to the basics of goat care will help participants determine whether owning goats is right for them. Space is limited; advance registration required. The cost is $25 per participant. Participants can purchase goats from the Goat Conspiracy and the registration cost can be applied to the goat purchase.
Goat Yoga with Tyler Ferguson will be Saturday, Feb. 29 from 1 to 2 p.m. at Caliente Fitness, 2620 N. Walnut St. in Bloomington. Classes are adapted to all ability levels; all are welcome to stretch body and mind with this fun yet serious yoga class. Advance registration required. The cost is $20 per participant.
Visit goatconspiracy.com for more information.
Food management class happening in March
The Brown County Health Department, 201 Locust Lane, will offer a ServSafe Food Manager Class Monday and Tuesday, March 2 and 3. The class will include the exam to become a certified food manager. A food establishment is required by law to have a certified food manager on staff. Nonprofits are not required to have certified staff; however, food knowledge is still required by code.
Class on March 2 starts at 8:30 a.m. and runs until 12:30 p.m.; the March 3 class starts at 8:30 a.m. and runs until about 2:30 p.m. The class will use the seventh edition of the ServSafe Food Manager text with 2017 food code updates.
Class is limited to 14 participants. The cost is $150 and includes the text, test and class. Call the Brown County Health Department at 812-988-2255 for information or to register.
Disease control conference scheduled in county
Brown County Inn, 51 State Road 46 East, will host an Indiana Vector Control Association conference Sunday, March 8 through Tuesday, March 10.
Sessions include information on Asian longhorned ticks; new insights on pathogen transmission risk by West Nile Virus vectors in Illinois; geographic variation on black-legged ticks; evaluating the impact of mosquito control on honeybees; a state chemist update; an Indiana arboviral and tick surveillance update; deer management and impending disease issues; an EEE panel; bedbugs; cockroach resistance and rats.
The cost is $115 in advance, $155 at the door and $55 for students.
Contact Andrew Grau at 317-221-7456 for more information.
Medicare seminar offered in Nashville each month
A free Medicare 101 seminar will be offered by appointment at McGinley Insurance Agency, 145 S. Jefferson St., diagonally across from The Salvation Army.
The seminar is for people who are new to Medicare or not happy with their current plan, and those who have questions about anything related to Medicare.
With questions, call 812-988-6399.
Youth program offered at Unity Baptist
HAMBLEN TWP. — The Word of Life youth program has begun at Unity Baptist Church, 7361 Spearsville Road. It will meet on Wednesday nights from 6 to 8:15 p.m. through the end of April 2020.
The program includes age-appropriate biblical learning through fun and dynamic activities. A meal is provided. All youth from ages 4 to 17 are welcome.
For more information, email [email protected].
Game library available at Toy Chest
The Toy Chest, 125 S. Van Buren St., has created a game library that locals can use for a $10 annual membership fee.
Game library members can check out one game at the Toy Chest register. Games can be kept for a week or they can be renewed for another week. If the game is late, $1 will be charged each day up to the price of the game.
See the Toy Chest Game Library Facebook page for new game and other announcements.
Recycle center will take bagged trash for $2
The Brown County Recycle Center now accepts trash at its drive-through during regular hours, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays.
Drop-off costs $2 per bag. The center offers prepaid sticker books for $10 or $20, with five or 10 yellow stickers to affix to trash bags up to 55 gallons.
For more information, call the center at 812-988-0140. The center is at 176 Old State Road 46.
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.
