Sartell Youth Hockey begins 100 gun raffle
The Sartell Youth Hockey Association is hosting its second annual gun raffle, with the drawing being held at 7 p.m. Sunday, April 19 at the Blueline Sports Bar and Grill. Tickets can be bought online or in person up until that time. Tickets are available at the following Sartell area businesses: Blueline Sports Bar and Grill, House of Pizza, River Boat Depot, West Side Liquor and Bernick’s Arena. There are 100 guns, with 20 tickets sold per firearm. Visit sartellhockey.org for a list of guns, rules and to reserve tickets. Winning tickets are good for the awarded gun or comparable value at Scheel’s in Waite Park.
St. Cloud Hospital lights up Dec. 4
The 26th annual Festival of Lights is from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4 in front of St. Cloud Hospital, 1406 6th Ave. N. The event is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to donate to the Food Shelf. In addition to the traditional holiday lighting ceremony at 7 p.m., there will be horse-drawn trolley rides, reindeer, holiday carols by the Tech High School Chamber Choir, a living nativity presented by Messiah Lutheran Church of Sartell, visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, as well as cookies and cocoa. The Gorecki Guest House, across the street from the hospital, also will light up thanks to Emerald Cos. Inc. Stop by the St. Cloud Hospital Gift Gallery for its annual holiday sale from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4 and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5.
Calling all kid filmmakers
Entries into Minnesota’s 90-Second Newbery Film Festival now being accepted.
Minnesota is hosting its first-ever 90-Second Newbery Film Festival, a video contest in which kid filmmakers create movies that tell the entire stories of Newbery-winning books in 90 seconds or less. Making a film offers students a uniquely creative and multi-faceted educational experience. Kids can perform all of the writing, storyboarding, prop creation and acting, as well as direct, edit and produce the final film. Or, kids can partner with adults or tech savvy teens to perform some of the planning, writing or production functions, including filming or editing functions. Interested teachers, coaches, librarians, media coordinators and parents are encouraged to visit the 90-Second Newbery website(90secondnewbery.com) for inspiration and details about the contest, including how to submit an entry. There you may download the handy guide of tips, tricks and strategies, and hear about the competition and event directly from founder and curator of the 90-second Newbery Film Festival. The deadline for submitting films is Dec. 20.
Minnesota’s festival is made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Minnesota Department of Education’s State Library Services division. Select films will be shown during the Minnesota screening of the 90-Second Newbery Film Festival from 3-4:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28 at the Hennepin County Library-Minneapolis Central, 300 Nicollet Mall, in Pohlad Hall. James Kennedy – author, founder and curator of the 90-Second Newbery Film Festival – will co-host the festival with local author Kelly Barnhill.
Citizens sought to serve on county committees
Stearns County is looking for residents who want to get involved with their local government and serve on a County board or committee. The boards and committees serve a variety of County departments in a variety of areas. Stearns County is recruiting for appointments to be filled in January of 2015. Application deadline is Monday, Dec. 8.
The County has openings on numerous boards, such as the Planning Commission, Board of Adjustment, Dairy Advisory Committee, Great River Regional Library Board, Public Health Task Force, Park Commission, Human Services Advisory Committee, Stearns County HRA, Social Services Task Force, Emergency Planning Advisory Committee, Extension Committee, and Community Corrections Advisory Board for example.
Interested applicants can apply for a committee position online through the Stearns County website at StearnsCountyMN.gov.
There is also a description of each committee, meeting dates and times, and contact information on the website. In addition, citizens can sign-up to receive an email to be notified whenever there’s a board or committee vacancy.
Serving on one of these committees is a great opportunity for citizens to give their input on issues important to them and to the County.
Any questions can be directed to Stearns County Administration at 320-656-3602.
United Way Volunteer Opportunities
Ring Bells, donate toys, food, coats to Salvation Army
Volunteer to ring The Salvation Army bells over the Christmas season. They have several locations within Sartell, St. Cloud, Sauk Rapids and Waite Park. It can be cold outside, so volunteers must be able and willing to stand outside for at least two hours at a time. The Salvation Army is also in need of donations for the Holiday Season. Donations needed include infant-teen new toys, food-shelf donations (ham/turkey), and winter coats, hats, gloves and mittens. Contact The Salvation Army at 320-252-4552.
True friends
Come to camp and make the most out of winter. When’s the last time you went sledding, had a snowball fight or played broomball on ice? Do all of that (and drink lots of hot chocolate) with their campers. Individuals who attend camp are all ages – youth and adults – with disabilities (learning, physical and/or developmental). The camp is Dec. 26-31. Volunteers must be ages 18 and older; families encouraged to apply; ages 5-17 must be supervised by parent/guardian; on-site housing and meals provided; no experience necessary – training is provided. True Friends provides camp and respite experiences to children and adults with a variety of disabilities, along with their family and friends. Volunteers are never intentionally left alone with campers, are not responsible for personal care and do not assist in behavior management. You’re there to provide a positive energy and helping hand to campers and staff. Contact Amanda Sorell, volunteer services coordinator, at 952-852-0101 x399.
Place of Hope holiday donation needs
Place of Hope is in need of donations for the Holiday Season. Needs include: gift cards, winter hats, coats and mittens, new gifts for children to give to their parents and siblings, backpacks, personal-care items, sponsors for Adopt a Family for Hope, food for meals served on site, $10 gift cards for food, diapers and teen gifts. Contact Pastor Carol, Place of Hope, at 320-203-7881.
Volunteers needed to gift wrap
Get into the true holiday spirit by giving your time to help pets in need. The Tri-County Humane Society’s gift wrapping booth is back for another year at Crossroads Center near Target, and they need all the help they can get. They will be wrapping gifts during mall hours every day from Black Friday through Christmas Eve. Round up a group of friends, sign up the entire family or fill in some of the shifts that need just one more set of hands and make some new friends. This is one of the few volunteer opportunities you don’t need to currently volunteer at the shelter to be able to help out. However, anyone under 18 MUST be accompanied by an adult to volunteer. Visit www.tricountyhumanesociety.org to register.
Community lunch program
The Salvation Army needs volunteers to assist with their community lunch program. Volunteers will assist with meal preparation, serving and cleaning the dining area. Contact Barbara Nelson, Salvation Army volunteer coordinator, at 320-252-4552.
CentraCare Health Plaza attendant, float
Volunteers are needed Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-noon or noon-4 p.m. at CentraCare Health Plaza to assist with transporting, escorting, directing and assisting patients and guests during a busy construction period. Volunteer once a week for four hours. Training will be provided. Contact Alison Dahlin, lead volunteer program specialist, at 320-255-5638.
For more information, contact Mary Krippner, United Way volunteer engagement coordinator at (320) 223-7991 or mkrippner@unitedwayhelps.org.