Halloween Movie ‘Match Up’ winner announced
The winner of the family entertainment package from the Newsleaders’ Halloween movie ‘match up’ contest was chosen randomly from among all correct entries received before noon on Nov. 9. The winner from the St. Joseph community is Mike Dingmann. We hope all of you had as much fun playing as we did creating the contest!
Halloween Movie ‘Match Up’ winner announced
The winner of the family entertainment package from the Newsleaders’ Halloween movie ‘match up’ contest was chosen randomly from among all correct entries received before noon on Nov. 9. The winner from the Sartell-St. Stephen community is John Villcheck. We hope all of you had as much fun playing as we did creating the contest!
Halloween Movie ‘Match Up’ winner announced
The winner of the family entertainment package from the Newsleaders’ Halloween movie ‘match up’ contest was chosen randomly from among all correct entries received before noon on Nov. 9. The winner from the Sauk Rapids-Rice community is Loren Finlayson. We hope all of you had as much fun playing as we did creating the contest!
Metro Bus to host seven transportation input meetings
The public can help shape the future of public transportation in the St. Cloud area by attending and sharing input at one of seven meetings planned by Metro Bus. The meetings will be held at various locations in St. Cloud, St. Joseph, Sauk Rapids, Sartell and Waite Park, Nov. 16-21 and will cover the drafted long-range-transit plan as well as an overview of the current Dial-a-Ride service. The Saturday, Nov. 21 session at Whitney Senior Center is part of the St. Cloud 101 event hosted by the city of St. Cloud.
The Metro Bus meetings will be open-house style without a formal presentation. The public is welcome to come and go as they need and staff will share information and answer questions on a one-to-one, or small-group basis.
“The feedback gathered from these sessions will help put the final touches on our long-range-transit plan,” said Tom Cruikshank, managing director of Operations and Planning, who is leading this project at Metro Bus.
“We want to design a transit system that does a better job at meeting the transportation needs of this community now and for the future,” said Ryan Daniel, Metro Bus executive director. “Public input and support is extremely important to achieving this goal.”
The open houses will be held as follows: from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16 at Atwood Memorial Center, St. Cloud State University, 720 Fourth Ave. S., St. Cloud; from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17 at Metro Bus’s Transit Center, 510 First St. S., St. Cloud; from 2-4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18 at St. Joseph City Hall, 25 College Ave. N.; from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19 at Independent Lifestyles, 215 N. Benton Drive, Sauk Rapids; from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19 at Sartell City Hall, 125 Pinecone Road N.; from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20 in Waite Park City Hall, 19 13th Ave. N.; and from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21 at Whitney Senior Center, 1527 Northway Drive, St. Cloud.
Board game night set Nov. 17 at government center
Join Sauk Rapids-Rice High School freshman Claire Maurus as she hosts Game Night from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17 at the Sauk Rapids Government Center, 250 Summit Ave. N. This is a community service project to “turn off” the electronic screens and interact face-to-face with new and old friends. Bring a favorite game to share or learn a new game. Bring a friend, bring a sibling, bring a grandparent. Come and have fun!
Build Habitat Homes Feb. 19-28 in El Salvador
An informational meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16 at Celebration Lutheran Church, 1500 Pinecone Road, Sartell. Come join the Thrivent Builds Worldwide team as we embark on the third annual trip to build homes through Habitat El Salvador in the beautiful Ahuachapan region of El Salvador. Enjoy the benefits of an outstanding program, which includes five days of hands-on work on Habitat homes, amazing accommodations at a tropical mountain resort, authentic local cuisine and a chance to genuinely experience the rich culture of El Salvador. The trip includes a final day to decompress at a beach resort on the Pacific Ocean before we return home. Now in its 10th year, the Thrivent Builds Worldwide program promises this trip will be a life-changing experience. All adults (16+) with a heart for families in need of a decent place to live are invited to join the team.
Identity theft class scheduled Nov. 17
An educational class on identity theft will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17 in the St. Cloud Police Department Public Training Room, 101 11th Ave. N., St. Cloud. Information will be presented on identity theft including how thieves obtain your information, how to reduce your likelihood of victimization and what to do should you become a victim of identity theft.
The St. Cloud Police Department conducts public information and education sessions. These sessions are presented on a recurring basis and include a variety of crime-prevention-related subjects that are of interest to city residents, business community members and the public at large.
Seating capacity is 80 individuals for each session. Registration is not required and seating will be accommodated on a first-to-arrive, first-to-be-seated basis.
Free public parking is available on a limited basis in the St. Cloud Police Department public parking area at the south side of our facility or in the nearby Paramount Parking Ramp by fee. The sessions will last approximately one hour 15 minutes.
The public may also view this session and future educational session information on the St. Cloud Police Department Public Training and Events Calendar located on the City of St. Cloud website at ci.stcloud.mn.us.
Fare For All makes Thanksgiving more affordable
Fare For All, a local food program created to make fresh fruits and vegetables more affordable will sell Holiday Packs from 3:30-5:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16 at Resurrection Lutheran Church, 610 CR 2, St. Joseph. Each Holiday Pack includes an 8- to 10-pound turkey, a pork tenderloin, boneless-skinless chicken breasts, pork sausage, green beans and an apple pie. There is no need to register in advance.
Finken partners with Bryant for Community Heroes program.
Finken Plumbing, Heating and Cooling has joined forces with furnace manufacturer, Bryant, to give away a brand new Bryant furnace to a deserving local hero this holiday season. The Bryant Community Heroes program honors ordinary people doing extraordinary things in their community. A qualifying hero can be anyone who demonstrates how a person with passion and determination can use his or her life to make a difference in their community. Community heroes will be considered after being nominated at http://bryantcommunityheroes.com/bryant-community-heroes-nomination/. A local winner will be selected Nov. 15. A follow-up announcement of the winner will also be made.
United Way Volunteer Opportunities
Holiday donation needs for Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities Emergency Services is in need of donations for the holiday season. Their needs include the following: new toys, gift cards for teens, personal-care items, food-shelf donations, coats/boots for children, XL coats for men and women, new socks/underwear (all sizes) and sponsors for Share the Spirit Program. Contact Kathryn, Catholic Charities Emergency Services, at 320-229-4560.
Volunteer to help with tax returns
Tri-CAP’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program offers free tax-preparation services to low- to moderate-income people (Individuals < $30,000, Families < $53,000 per year) who need assistance in completing their tax returns. Volunteers receive free IRS-certified training to prepare basic tax returns in communities across the country which is a great asset on a resume. The Tri-CAP Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites are located in Benton, Sherburne and Stearns counties and offer free e-filing. Contact Tri-CAP at 320-257-4510 or e-mail taxes@tricap.org to volunteer or ask questions.
No veteran dies alone
Volunteers provide companionship for veterans who are nearing the end of life. This support is provided to veterans who are residing in the St. Cloud VA Community Living Centers. On-call and flexible shifts available Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Contact St. Cloud VA Health Care System at 320-255-6365 or vhastcvavsstaff@va.gov.
Food packaging event ~ more than 225 volunteers still needed
Kids Fighting Hunger is excited to announce its third annual “We Are Thankful” community-wide food-packaging event on Saturday, Nov. 14 at the River’s Edge Convention Center in St. Cloud. This event is designed to give 600+ adults, children and families in our community a chance to help provide some much-needed food to children in Sierra Leone through their partner agency, Children of the Nations. Sierra Leone was devastated by the Ebola outbreak last year and the economic recovery is expected to last at least another two years. Children of the Nations will distribute the food to children through their school programs. Three shifts available to volunteer. Visit www.unitedwayhelps.org to register today. Contact Mary Krippner, United Way of Central Minnesota, at 320-223-7991.
St. Cloud Friends of the Library Bookstore
St. Cloud Friends of the Library seeks volunteers to assist in staffing the bookstore located in the St. Cloud Library, sorting donated books and other materials, stocking the shelves in the bookstore, and determining appropriate prices for sales of the ordinary donated books as well as vintage books. Contact Marcia Neely, Friends of the Library, at 320-428-1714 or marciagarden@yahoo.com.
For more information, contact Mary Krippner, United Way volunteer engagement coordinator, at 320-223-7991 or Mkrippner@unitedwayhelps.org.
