State parks reopening in stages starting now
State parks are slowly reopening to more guests.
All Indiana Department of Natural Resources properties, including Brown County State Park, will resume charging entrance fees no later than May 15.
Equestrian and mountain bike trails opened, for day use only, on May 11.
Day use restrooms and vault toilets will open at DNR properties by May 15. Until then, guests should come prepared for restroom use to be restricted.
Nature centers and historic facilities in state parks properties will open the week of May 11; however, hours may be reduced, and social distancing may limit the number of guests in the respective facility at one time.
Marinas will open the week of May 11, with limited operations.
A complete status list for facilities and services at DNR properties is at on.IN.gov/dnrcovid19.
Guests at DNR properties are asked to remember the following when visiting:
- Practice social distancing at all times, particularly, as you hike, picnic or use boat ramps. Keep a minimum of 6 feet from other individuals you encounter, for your safety and theirs.
- Keep your group size small — fewer than 25.
- Bring your own drinking water and hand sanitizer.
- If you picnic, bring and use a covering for your picnic table and take it with you when you leave.
- If a parking lot is full, move to another location.
- If you feel sick or are running a fever, plan a visit for a different day for the safety of other guests.
Free food distribution happening this weekend
St. Vincent de Paul and Nashville United Methodist Church will be distributing food at the Brown County YMCA parking lot, 105 Willow St., on Saturday, May 16 from noon to 4 p.m.
Bags of food and bottled water will be set up on tables for contact-less pick-up.
Legal counsel to be offered over the phone
Legal Aid will conduct a free legal aid phone clinic for Brown County residents on Tuesday, May 19.
The clinic offers free, brief, legal consultations to offer low-income people answers to general questions, legal information and advice over the phone. Participants must register for the clinic by calling Legal Aid at 812-378-0358 on Tuesday, May 19 between noon and 1 p.m. A volunteer attorney will return a call to the registered individuals between 3 and 5:30 p.m. Participants must be available between 3 and 5:30 p.m. to answer that call.
Mother’s Cupboard benefit rescheduled
Mother’s Cupboard Community Kitchen annual Soup Bowl benefit has been rescheduled to Sunday, June 21 at The Seasons Lodge and Conference Center, 560 State Road 46 East from 5 to 7 p.m.
Adult tickets are $25 and tickets for kids younger than 12 are $5. Advance sale tickets are available at the Brown County IGA, the Brown County Visitors Center and from Mother’s Cupboard board members. Tickets also will be available at the door.
Adult ticketholders will receive a unique hand-thrown bowl by talented Brown County potters and fill those bowls with fine soups from Brown County restaurants. Children’s tickets do not include a bowl. There will be live music and many unique items in a silent auction, as well.
Mother’s Cupboard provides free hot meals 364 days a year to anyone who asks for food. It also operates a food bank and distributes government commodities. The kitchen is funded by donations from individuals and endowments administered by the Brown County Community Foundation.
The kitchen is at its new location on the Brown County Fairgrounds off Old State Road 46, just east of Nashville, and serves a hot meal from 4 to 6 p.m. daily — even during this pandemic.
Mother’s Cupboard distributed more than 43,000 hot meals in 2019 and distributed more than 10 tons of donated food at the food pantry — no questions asked.
Brown County History Center cancels events
The Brown County History Center, 90 E. Gould St., has canceled the Pioneer Women’s Gathering and Spring into Art show May 9 as well as the annual quilt show set for June 5 and 6.
The quilt raffle drawing will still take place on June 6.
The historical society also has canceled its Hands on History Summer Camp June 22 to 26.
Annual wine fair rescheduled for August
STORY — Story Inn’s annual Indiana Wine Fair has been postponed to Aug. 8. The schedule of the events will remain the same as it was planned for May 2.
A Taste of Art fundraiser moved to new date
The Rotary Club of Brown County will have its 5th Annual “A Taste of Art” on Saturday, Aug. 29 at The Seasons Conference Center, 560 State Road 46 East. A large selection of contemporary and heritage art from collectable artists will be available in silent and live auctions.
Tastings, heavy hors d’oeuvres and the silent auction begin at 5 p.m. The live auction by professional auctioneer Dennis Jackson begins at 7 p.m. Sponsors of the liquid tastings include Big Woods, Hard Truth, Quaff ON! Brewing Co. and Country Heritage Winery.
All event proceeds fund scholarships, youth development activities and community projects. Tickets are $50 in advance or $55 at the door.
Tickets and catalogs of artwork in the silent and live auctions are available at rotaryclubofbrowncounty.org.
Local bluebird club selling nesting boxes
The Brown County Bluebird Club’s annual bluebird nest box sale has begun. Boxes are all cedar and fully assembled. One box is $15 and two boxes are $25. If interested, call Dan Sparks at 812-200-5700.
