Taste of St. Cloud set May 2
The sixth annual Taste of St. Cloud, sponsored by the Franciscan Community Volunteers, a growing ministry of the Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls, will be held from 4:30-7:30 p.m. Monday, May 2 at the Territory Golf Course/Coyote Moon Grille in St. Cloud. The event features an array of cuisines from 16 local restaurants as well as live entertainment and a silent auction. Come meet the Franciscan Community Volunteers and see the ways they have enriched the people of the St. Cloud area. You’ll also have an opportunity to visit many Franciscan Sisters and friends.
The mission of FCV is to accompany young men and women, ages 21-30, to grow in Christian discipleship and leadership through Franciscan spirituality, full-time service and community life. Volunteers make an 11-month commitment to work full time with local nonprofit agencies that serve the needs of the poor and marginalized while accepting the challenge of living simply and in accordance with Gospel values.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.fcvonline.org or www.fslf.org, or by checks made payable to the Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls. Please write “Taste of St. Cloud Tickets” on the memo line. Tickets will be held at the door the evening of the event under the name of the purchaser. Send checks to Franciscan Sisters, 1600 11th Ave. S., St. Cloud, Minn. 56301. For more information, contact Pat Schlauderaff at 320-229-0307 or pschlauderaff@fslf.org.
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Stone Poneys fundraiser, raffle set May 1 at Blue Line
The Blue Line Sports Bar and Grill in Sartell will host a fundraiser and raffle for the Sartell Stone Poneys from 5-8 p.m. Sunday, May 1.
The fundraiser is to help offset summer costs of umpires, field dues, equipment, uniforms, league fees and tournaments; 20 percent of proceeds will be donated to Stone Poneys.
Raffle tickets will be sold; you do not need to be present to win. There will be five prize packages to choose from.
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Financial literacy, life skills offered April 30
Treasure My Future, a free financial literacy and life skills conference for students in grades 5-12, will be held from 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, April 30 at Resource Training & Solutions, 137 23rd St. S., Suite 201 in Sartell. This fun, exciting and educational event is sponsored by local businesses. For more information, visit TreasureMyFuture.com.
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Parents of seniors watch for email
Parents of seniors please take note. Keep an eye out for an email from the Newsleaders requesting your response about your senior for our upcoming senior graduation booklet.
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Outdoor yoga class set April 24
An outdoor yoga class, celebrating the Earth Day weekend, will be held from 11 a.m.-noon Sunday, April 24 at Baker’s Acres, 36861 CR 9, Avon. The class will be taught by College of St. Benedict student and instructor Laura Lanigan.
Springtime is a chance for renewal and reconnection with nature, especially after the cold winters that keep us inside in climate-controlled environments. This event enables the community to come together and practice rejuvenating yoga, surrounded by the beauty of nature. It’s recommended each participant bring a mat and water bottle, although a limited supply of mats will be provided. Participants may drive to the farm, and there will also be free busing for students to and from the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph.
Participants of all skill levels are invited to join as they are guided through an energizing, yet accessible yoga sequence that lasts for an hour. Participants are encouraged to wear comfortable layers that allow for a wide range of movement. For more information, visit bakersacresfarm.com.
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Planned Parenthood to offer free STD testing
April is “Get Yourself Tested” month, so Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota will offer free STD testing at the St. Cloud Planned Parenthood clinic from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays until the end of the month.
Planned Parenthood nurses — highly-trained specialists in reproductive health care — will conduct HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and herpes tests and provid health information in a respectful, caring environment.
All testing will be conducted in a professional, supportive environment. HIV test results will be available within 20 minutes and other STD test results will be delivered by phone within a week (if the result is positive).
Getting regular STD tests is an easy and responsible way to take charge of your own health. Planned Parenthood clinicians are experts at STD prevention, testing and treatment.
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Ladies’ Night to raise VFW funds
A Ladies’ Night Out Home Party Show will be held from 5-8 p.m. Thursday, April 28 at the East Side VFW Post 4847, 104 Franklin Ave. NE, St. Cloud. Three Minnesota romance authors will be there as well as crafters, a cupcake vendor and several home parties vendors. The event is free; all table money goes to the VFW for veterans’ charities. Door prizes are also available.
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Her Story, Her Song set April 26 at Bethlehem
Her Story, Her Song, part of the St. Cloud State University’s Creative Arts Series, will be held at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 26 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 4310 CR 137, St. Cloud. The 15th annual concert focuses on memory in honor of this year’s partner good Shepherd Community’s Music and Memory Program.
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Student film fest to be held April 29
A free student film festival will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, April 29 at the Performing Arts Center at St. Cloud State University. The third annual Student Film Festival features the best SCSU past and present student short films. Filmmakers, actors and crew will be in attendance.
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Dollars available to replace septic systems
Stearns County’s Environmental Services Department has a limited amount of funding available to assist homeowners in replacing subsurface sewage treatment systems. The funding comes from a grant received from the State of Minnesota.
Eligibility for this grant requires the household has low income (based on 2015 tax returns), the property is a homesteaded single-family home or duplex and the sewage treatment system is documented to be an imminent-threat-to-public-health-and-safety or is failing-to-protect-groundwater status.
These funds are available for a limited time only. Residents of Stearns County who think they may qualify and would like an application should contact Susan McGuire or Mark Latterell at the Stearns County Environmental Services Department at 320-656-3613 or 1-800-450-0852.
Applications are available now and should be submitted to environmental services when completed. The money will be distributed on a first-come first-served basis.
The purpose of these grants is to protect and restore water quality. The source of the funding is the Minnesota Clean Water Fund, one of four funds established by the Clean Water, Wildlife, Cultural Heritage and Natural Areas Amendment in 2008.
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Plant trees for Arbor Day
National Arbor Day is April 29 and the Arbor Day Foundation is making it easy for anyone to celebrate the annual tree-planting holiday because, when they join the foundation in April, they receive 10 free shade trees.
By joining the Foundation in April, new members receive the following trees: red oak, sugar maple, weeping willow, bald cypress, thornless honeylocust, pin oak, river birch, tuliptree, silver maple and red maple.
The free trees are part of the Foundation’s Trees for America campaign.
The trees will be shipped postpaid with enclosed planting instructions at the right time for planting in April or May. The 6- to 12-inch trees are guaranteed to grow or they will be replaced free of charge. Deadline to donate and receive trees is April 30.
For more information, visit arborday.org/april.
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United Way Volunteer Opportunities
Garden partner wanted
Volunteer and be a garden partner who works with the flower garden director at St. Benedict’s Monastery in St. Joseph. Tasks include planting, hoeing and weeding. Volunteers should enjoy working outdoors with other volunteers in a beautiful setting. Volunteers are needed Tuesday or Wednesday mornings from 8:15-11:15 a.m. Contact Sister Jean Schwartz of St. Benedict’s Monastery at 320-363-7105 or jschwartz@csbsju.edu.
Donation door aide wanted
Catholic Charities Emergency Services (Food and Clothing Program) is looking for volunteers to assist staff and other volunteers in daily program operations and to organize materials, especially boxes and bags that are used by clients in the food shelf and clothing program. Volunteers must be flexible to take on different tasks. The job requires lifting, reaching and working on your feet. Volunteers must have a non-judgmental attitude toward low income people or people in crisis and be able to lift 20-40 pounds. Catholic Charities Emergency Services is located at 157 Roosevelt Road, Suite 100, St Cloud. Contact Kathryn Stolpman, manager of Emergency Food and Clothing Programs or Chad Kaushagen, program coordinator, at 320-229-4560.
Reader wanted at Country Manor
Country Manor residents have requested to have a volunteer come in one time per week (for approximately one hour) to read out loud to a small group of residents. Volunteers will choose books they would like to read with approval from the Therapeutic Recreation Department. Day of the week and time of the day is flexible based on the volunteer’s schedule, activities calendar and meal time for the residents. Contact Caitlin Tierney, Country Manor volunteer coordinator, at 320-253-1920.
Customer service assistant wanted
Join the ReStore team and serve Habitat for Humanity’s mission that everyone deserves a decent place to live. Volunteer customer service assistants greet customers and donors at the store, answer questions and help them find merchandise. Volunteers will also place and price items on the sales floor. Volunteers should have the ability to stay on their feet for two-three hours and possess great interpersonal skills. No construction experience is needed. Contact Eileen Bitzan, ReStore volunteer manager, at 320-241-4643 or ebitzan@CMHFH.org.
Humane Society seeks care for animals
The Tri-County Humane Society needs volunteers to care for animals and help them get adopted. This position includes helping customers get to know animals up for adoption, exercising, socialization, grooming, cleaning, etc. Contact the Tri-County Humane Society volunteer coordinator at 320-252-0896 or volunteer_tchs@hotmail.com.
For more information, contact Mary Krippner, United Way volunteer engagement coordinator, at 320-223-7991 or Mkrippner@unitedwayhelps.org.
