Rice Chamber hosts Trick or Treat on Main Street
The Rice Chamber invites all local businesses to participate in the second annual Trick or Treat Main Street from 3:30-5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30. This year, there will be a special area for businesses which are located outside of town but do business in Rice. If you would like your business to participate, please sign up by Friday, Oct. 16 to ensure you are a part of advertising and flyers. Contact Sarah Wilczek at 320-393-2460 or swilczek@amfam.com to get on the list.
Senior Connection hosts museum curator
Join Adam Smith, curator of collections at the Stearns History Museum, at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13 at the District Service Center, 212 Third Ave. N., Sartell. Smith will provide a general overview of the museum and its future goals. His presentation will explain the process of how the museum selects artifacts for the collection, catalogs them and preserves them for the future. Feel free to discuss any questions you might have on artifacts in your family. Refreshments served.
St. Columbkille hosts Turkey Bingo Party
The St. Columbkille Christian Women invite everyone to their Turkey Bingo Party at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 18 at the St. Columbkille Catholic Church basement, 12536 CR 4, Avon (St. Wendel). Attractions include bingo, a grand raffle, children’s activities, a bake sale and door prizes.
Sign up now for hunter safety course
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reminds hunters it’s never too early to sign up for a hunter safety course. Classes are offered in a traditional classroom setting or online. For more information, visit thenewsleaders.com and click on Oct. 9 Criers.
MEA break held next week
School will not be held on Thursday-Friday, Oct. 15-16 due to Parent Teacher Conferences and the Minnesota Education Association’s break.
Area Scouts collect for food shelf
Boy Scout Troop and Cub Scout Pack 84 of St. Joseph will collect food from area homes for their fall food drive on Saturday, Oct. 10. Scouts have dropped off bags at some homes to be filled with food, and will pick those bags up on Saturday. The food will then be donated to the St. Joseph Food Shelf. If you would like to donate additional money or food to the Scout’s drive, contact Scott at 320-333-1532.
League of Women Voters hosts meetings Oct. 14, 17
The League of Women Voters St. Cloud Area has scheduled its October study topic “Money in Politics.” The first will take place at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14 at the Great River Regional Library, 1300 W. St. Germain St. A second meeting on the same topic will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 17 at Dunn Brother’s Coffee in the Coborn’s Grocery on Cooper Avenue. League unit meetings are open to the public and all are welcome to attend. For more information on St. Cloud League activities, visit lwvsca.org.
Avon Women of Today sponsor bloodmobile
The Avon Women of Today will sponsor a Red Cross Bloodmobile from 1-7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15 at the Avon Community Church, 204 Avon Ave. N.
Double red cells will be collected at this drive. Collecting twice the red cells from donors with blood types of O+, 0-, A- and B- allows more blood to be available for patients such as trauma victims requiring emergency transfusion, or for surgeries requiring massive transfusion.
Individuals must be 17 years of age (16 years old with a parent’s signature), in good health and weigh a minimum of 110 pounds to donate blood. Donors can give once every 56 days, up to six times a year. For questions about donating, contact Red Cross and ask for a donor health consultant at 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (448-3543) and press option 6.
For information or appointments, contact Mary at 320-248-3375 or e-mail almeschenk@aol.com. Appointments help us schedule donors more evenly, keeping donor “wait time” to a minimum.
Breakfast Club hosts public works director
Hodel to shares history, vision of water treatment
Tracy Hodel, assistant public works director for the City of St. Cloud, will present Past, Present and Future of Wastewater Services in Central Minnesota during Breakfast Club at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14, at the Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave. S., St. Cloud. Hodel will provide a brief overview of how wastewater treatment has evolved and share sustainability initiatives planned by the City of St. Cloud in the near future.
Wastewater treatment has always been complex. Since St. Cloud’s early days in the mid-19th Century, a partnership formed with the Mississippi River to use its water for the public’s benefit. Hodel will touch on the history, capturing the key moments in which city staff members gained experience and knowledge about the environmental impact of water treatment. The city also has utilized technology to aid the process, implementing energy-saving techniques to save taxpayers money. “All of these things tie in together,” Hodel explained, “so we have to make sure we look at the big picture.”
That vision only makes for brighter days ahead. Hodel will share future plans on how to use water efficiently to improve the environment for the next generation.
The Breakfast Club program is free for Stearns History Museum members; there is a nominal charge for nonmembers. Refreshments are served.
Apps now accepted for job-training program
Rep. Tim O’Driscoll (R-Sartell) encourages area businesses to apply for grants through the Job Training Incentive Program, which is handled by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. New or expanding businesses in Greater Minnesota can apply for grants of up to $100,000 to train workers in new jobs.
“This is a chance for our local businesses to find and train new employees,” O’Driscoll said. “I encourage any business interested in this grant program to apply.”
Applications will be accepted beginning Oct. 15, and awarded on a first-come-first-serve basis to eligible businesses; $900,000 in total funding is available through June 30, 2016, with an additional $900,000 available starting next July.
According to DEED, eligible businesses must be located outside the seven-county Metro Area, and funding may be used “to pay direct training costs, including wages for on-the-job training.” Businesses must add at least three new permanent jobs, and pay must be equal to at least the average weekly wage for the county in which the jobs are located.
More information can be found on the DEED website at www.mn.gov/deed. Questions about the program can also be directed to jodie.greising@state.mn.us.
Funding for the grant program was included in the Jobs and Energy Omnibus bill passed by the legislature and signed into law by Governor Dayton earlier this year.
United Way Volunteer Opportunities
Haunted spa set Oct. 30
Help Country Manor make this Halloween SPOOKTACULAR for the residents by helping out in our Haunted House/Haunted Spa. Help take residents through a haunted spa and through different eras with crazy hair styles and outfits. Volunteers are being sought to dress up and play a part in the spa to make it spooky and fun. The event will be from 1:30-4:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30. There will be a short orientation prior to the event for volunteers who have never been there before. Contact Caitlin, Country Manor volunteer coordinator, at 320-258-8936.
Everyday Blessings seeks volunteers
Do you have the gift of hospitality? Enjoy going to boutiques? Great River Area Faith in Action needs help with their store, Everyday Blessings. Not only do they sell furniture and home décor but they take great pleasure in ministering to hurting people who come across their path. Contact Cherise, Great River Area Faith in Action, at 320-290-3428.
Halloween extravaganza set Oct. 30
Opportunity Matters, a local non-profit dedicated to working with individuals with physical and/or cognitive challenges, is looking for a group of six to eight volunteers to assist with our client Halloween party from 4-7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30 to hand out candy, take pictures, assist with cookie decorating and general event set-up and tear down. Open to all ages. Call if you and your group are looking for some spooky fun. Contact Brenda Eggerth, volunteer and communications manager, at 320-240-1900 ext. 205.
Environmental projects specialist sought
Assist in projects to enhance the quality of the environment for the benefit of clients such as painting, landscaping, gardening, patio design and care. Assist with vehicle checks and care to insure safe and comfortable transportation for staff members and clients. Assist with the development of adaptations for clients to increase their ability to complete paid work and interact in non-paid projects and activities. Assist with accessible equipment adjustments and minor repairs. Must have experience with basic shop procedures, yard equipment and tools. Volunteers must have the ability to lift and carry 20 pounds along with intermittent bending, twisting and reaching and the ability to stand for up to four hours while performing tasks. This volunteer position is available between 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday through Friday at 320 Sundial Drive, Waite Park. Contact Andrea Harrell, WACOSA volunteer coordinator, 320-251-0087 ext. 227.
Flowers for Waite Park seeks volunteers
The City of Waite Park – Flowers for Waite Park is seeking volunteers for group projects and individuals who would like to help with the care of their parks. Volunteers would help with weeding, cutting down plants and basic fall clean up. Short-term and long-term opportunities are available. Contact Lorraine at 320-529-8640.
For more information, contact Mary Krippner, United Way volunteer engagement coordinator, at 320-223-7991 or Mkrippner@unitedwayhelps.org.
