Senior Connection hosts community meet, greet
Sartell Senior Connection invites residents to a Community Meet and Greet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6 at the Sartell District Service Center, 212 3rd Ave. N. If you are interested in meeting others with same interests to attend local events, please come and enjoy an evening of getting to know each other and looking over what’s happening from free events, theater, choirs, movies and much more. All ages are welcome.
Public forums set for superintendent candidates
Sartell residents are encouraged to attend open forums for interviews of the final three candidates for superintendent of the Sartell-St. Stephen School District.
The forums are scheduled for 5 p.m. at the Sartell High School Media Center on three days: Monday, Feb. 3; Wednesday, Feb. 5; and Thursday, Feb. 6. Each day, a different candidate will spend the entire day at get-acquainted sessions at the schools. On each of those three days, the public is invited to meet the candidate for a question-and-answer session at 5 p.m. in the Sartell High School Media Center. At 7:45 p.m. on each evening, the board will interview a candidate.
The final discussion during which school-board members will discuss all the candidates will take place at 8:45 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6, and the public is invited to sit in on that meeting at the Media Center.
All three forums will be open to staff, students and Sartell residents.
(For more about the superintendent search, see related story in today’s paper.)
Scholarship apps now available
SSEF awards two scholarships each May. The applications are now available in the guidance office as well as on our website. The two scholarships available are:
The Sartell-St. Stephen Education Foundation Science and Technology $1,500 scholarship is awarded to a Sartell High School senior who plans to pursue post-secondary education in the field of science or technology. A written essay must be included on why they are choosing that career path, the impact it had on their life and how they hope to impact the field they choose to enter.
For a full list of criteria, please visit with the guidance office at the Sartell High School.
County considers use of electric bicycles
Stearns County’s Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing to get input from residents on the use of electric bicycles on county trails at 9:50 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11 in the Administration Center County Board Room, 705 Courthouse Square, downtown St Cloud. The Stearns County Parks Department is considering changes to its trails ordinance to comply with state laws that specifically allow electric-assisted bicycles on trails maintained by local units of government, in most cases. The Minnesota Legislature recently made changes to state law to say electric-assisted bicycles with motors fewer than 1,000 watts are bicycles exempt from motorized vehicle trail restrictions. Commissioners will decide whether to allow electric bikes on the county’s pedestrian and bike trails to comply with the new state law. Interested individuals can also send comments in advance to Stearns County Parks, 1802 CR 137, Waite Park, MN 56387 or to parkinfo@co.stearns.mn.us.
Is your daycare provider outstanding? If you would like to nominate your licensed family child-care provider to be considered for the 2013 Provider of the Year, please download and complete a form at www.SBCCAofMN.com by April 15 and send it to Stearns Benton Child Care Association, P.O. Box 7721, St. Cloud, MN 56302 or email to SBCCAofMN@gmail.com. Each May, daycare providers are honored by the two-county child care association during its banquet on Provider Appreciation Day which is Friday, May 9. If you have any questions about this form, please contact Stearns Benton Child Care Association President Karen Davis at 320-240-0281.
United Way volunteer opportunities
Volunteers sought to read to children
Reach-Up Inc. has multiple classrooms with lots of wonderful preschool-age children who would love to have someone from the community come in and read to them. There is not a huge time commitment with this opportunity, nor do you have to make this an ongoing commitment. But if you have a love of reading and enjoy preschool-age children, this is a perfect match for you. Volunteer readers will go through an orientation, complete a background check and fill out a one-page information/emergency contact form prior to volunteering. Background checks will be paid for by the volunteer. Contact Laurie Whitaker, Reach-Up Inc. volunteer coordinator, at 320-253-8110.
Outing assistant
Country Manor Campus needs your help. Help their activities assistants take a small group of residents out into the community to take part in an activity. Outings often include shopping trips, lunch outings, movies, bowling, garden tours and more. Volunteers must be friendly and dependable and be able to push wheelchairs great distances. The volunteer coordinator calls the outing assistants at the beginning of each month to sign them up for month’s outings that work with the volunteer’s schedule. Outings generally take place on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and occasionally mornings. Contact Jacquie Hartman, Country Manor Campus, at 320-253-1920.
Volunteer drivers
Tri-CAP expands opportunities for the economic and social well-being of their residents. Qualified volunteers are needed to transport passengers using their own vehicles to medical appointments, social service appointments, visitations and other needs. The driver will provide rides for passengers as assigned by Tri-CAP within Stearns, Benton and Sherburne counties and the surrounding areas. Volunteer drivers are reimbursed at the Federal IRS rate. Drivers must be at least 21 years old, have a valid driver’s license and be free from any drug/alcohol influence. The driver is required to carry automobile insurance as required by Minnesota state law and to notify the insurance company of the volunteer driving position. A driver must keep all names and information about passengers confidential. Contact Tri-CAP at 320-202-7824.
Boys Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America is looking for volunteers to help with their Scoutreach Program. Volunteers help teach at-risk youth the values of Boy Scouting through crafts, games and activities at various sites after school. A background check will be completed and Youth Protection Training is required by BSA policy. Contact Jane Holmberg, Scoutreach coordinator, at 320-251-3930.
Provide emotional support
Hospice volunteers are an instrumental part of the hospice team. They provide emotional support and practical assistance, which enhances the comfort and quality of life of hospice patients, their families and loved ones. Hospice volunteers may be utilized in many ways, including supportive listening, assisting with social activities, providing supportive services such as shopping and transportation, and assistance in the bereavement process. Respite care is an important volunteer function; allowing family members to take time for themselves. Volunteer coordinators work closely with families and patients to match their specific needs with volunteer services. St. Cloud Hospital Hospice Program provides services to patients and families living within a 45-mile radius of St. Cloud. Due to the intensity of training and orientation, as well as nature of working with people at the end of life, volunteers are asked to commit to volunteering with the program for a minimum of one year. Contact Jackie Cvancara, Hospice Volunteer coordinator, at 240-3276 or cvancaraj@centracare.com.
Be a foster grandparent
January is National Mentoring Month, and the Foster Grandparent Program needs mentors for youth in our community. Currently there are openings at Discovery Elementary, Journey Home daycare, Oak Hill Elementary, the St. Cloud Children’s Home, and several after-school programs. Foster Grandparent volunteers might help students with a reading assignment, work with a small group on a craft, or help kids cook an evening meal. Adults age 55 and better will receive an hourly tax-free stipend for volunteering 15 hours per week (or more if they wish) helping children with activities, reinforcing learning, helping with art projects and more. This is a great opportunity if you have time to spare, love to be with children and could use some extra non-taxable income. Contact Emily, Catholic Charities, at 320-229-4597.
For more information, contact Mary Krippner, United Way community volunteer coordinator, at 320-223-7991 or mkrippner@unitedwayhelps.org.
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