Art festival set for April 25
The Sartell Music Association will host the Pine Groove Art Festival from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, April 25 at Sartell Middle School. The event features artisan and craft vendors, as well as live music! Later in the evening, from 6:30-10 p.m. at the Grands at Mulligans, the Andrew Walesch Big Band will play! For more information, head to sartellmusic.org.
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Sartell Lions offer spring cleanup April 25
Taste of St. Cloud to be held May 4
The Franciscan Community Volunteers, a ministry of the Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls, invites the public to attend their fundraiser, the sixth annual Taste of St. Cloud from 4:30-7:30 p.m. Monday, May 4 at the Territory Golf Course’s Coyote Moon Grill, 480 55th Ave. SE, St. Cloud. Guests will enjoy an array of delicious cuisines from 16 local restaurants. There will be live entertainment and a silent auction. For more information, head to fcvonline.org or fslf.org, or contact Pat Schlauderaff at 320-229-0307 or [email protected].
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Free assistance offered to set up health-care directiveCentraCare Health Home Care and Hospice is offering information and free assistance to employees and the public on how to set up their own health-care directive. When family members are faced with a life-and-death health-care decision for a loved one, it can be overwhelming. Having a health-care directive can lessen the burden. Health-care directives help communicate the wishes of a person who may not be able to communicate or make decisions for themselves because of an illness or injury. For a complete list of session dates, times and locations, visit centracare.com, click on Classes and Events, Community Health and Wellness. Call 320-259-9375, ext. 28762, for details.
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Whitney hosts Rose Ed Day
Rose Education Day will be held from 8 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, April 25 at Whitney Senior Center, 1527 Northway Drive, St. Cloud. There are three different workshops: soil and fertilizers 101 for the gardener; how to fertilize and amend your soil pH with coffee grounds; and miniature rose care. The workshop is free, but registration is required. Contact 1-800-450-6171 or get in touch online at z.umn.edu/RoseEd2015.
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The fire danger, burning restrictions information on the DNR website has recently been updated. Minnesota is experiencing high to very high fire danger. Burning permits are restricted in most of the state. Additional restrictions are likely depending on fire conditions. Please check www.dnr.state.mn.us/forestry/fire/firerating_restrictions.html.
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Girls Camp set June 9-11
The Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls will host the eighth annual Franciscan Girls Camp entitled, “Faith and Fun with Franciscans,” from 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 9 to 6 p.m. Thursday, June 11 in Assisi Park, located on the grounds at St. Francis Convent, Little Falls. Girls who have completed grades 6-8 are invited to enjoy a variety of nature and fun activities, campfire, prayer and singing. Participants will have an opportunity to visit with and learn about the Franciscan Sisters and the values of St. Francis of Assisi. In addition, campers will discover their unique gifts and become aware of God’s presence in their lives – all while camping outdoors in the beauty of nature. This year’s theme is “God’s Gifts Within and Around Us.” For more information on the Franciscan Girls Camp, or to register by May 1, contact Sister Ange Mayers at (320) 632-0680 or email: [email protected]; www.fslf.org.
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Search for Mrs. Stearns County announced
The search is on for the next Mrs. Stearns County. Applications from married women living in Stearns are being accepted now. Mrs. Stearns County will have the honor of representing Stearns at the Mrs. Minnesota pageant, which will be held on March 12, 2016 at Ritsche Auditorium, St. Cloud State University. Competitive categories in the pageant include the personal interview, fitness wear and evening gown. There are no talent or swimsuit competitions. Find more information at mrsminnesota.com, or by calling 952-432-6758.
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County funding available for septic replacement
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. These funds are available for a limited time only, and applications are available now. The deadline to submit completed grant applications is 4:30 p.m. Thursday, April 30. The money will be distributed on a first-come first-served basis.
Eligibility for this grant requires the household has low income, 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.
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.
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.
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United Way Volunteer Opportunities
Crisis nursery seeks volunteer
St. Cloud Area Crisis Nursery seeks to strengthen and nurture families, in cooperation with community organizations and individuals, through a family-focused service to protect children from possible harm and provide support and validation for parents. They are looking for volunteers who will have the opportunity to counsel and support families from a crisis line via a cell phone from their home. Volunteers will be responsible for answering the crisis line from 5 p.m.-8 a.m. Monday through Friday and over weekends. Volunteers can determine their availability and can help as many hours as their schedule allows. Volunteers will attend a two-hour orientation training and come together every other month for a two-hour training with the coordinator. Trainings are fun and casual. Everyone is able to volunteer, but they require volunteers to be friendly, personable, professional and able to work under stressful situations. Volunteering with St. Cloud Area Crisis Nursery is very self-rewarding and making a difference really matters. Contact Conni Orth, Lutheran Social Service -St. Cloud Area Crisis Nursery, at 320-654-1090.
Read for people who are blind
Looking for an opportunity to help the blind or print-disabled receive local news? Become a volunteer with Central Minnesota Audio Newspapers and read newspapers over a closed radio network which is part of the Radio Talking Book Network. Read one or two evenings a month. Schedule is flexible. A one-year commitment is desired. Volunteers must pass an oral reading test. Contact Rita Woeste, Central Minnesota Audio Newspapers, at 320-293-2273.
Family Program – Recovery Plus
Volunteer to help create a warm, inviting and welcome environment for participants in the Recovery Plus Family Program at CentraCare. Start the coffee, put out treats, help new family members with signing in, and hand out information packets to attendees. Volunteers are needed from 8-9:30 a.m. Mondays. Contact St. Cloud Hospital Volunteer Services at 320-255-5638.
Foster Grandparents sought to mentor youth
The Foster Grandparent Program needs mentors for youth in our community. Currently there are openings at elementary schools in District 742 and Paynesville, Journey Home daycare (working with infants and toddlers), the St. Cloud Children’s Home (working with teens), 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 ages 55 and better will receive an hourly tax-free stipend ($2.65) for volunteering 15 hours per week (or more if they wish) helping children with activities, reinforcing learning, 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.
Volunteer for Habitat for Humanity’s thrift store ~ ReStore
The ReStore is a discount home-improvement retail store owned and operated by Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity. Individuals and businesses donate new and used home-improvement and building materials that are sold at a discount in the store. The sales fund’s their mission by providing affordable housing to low-income families. Anyone from the public can shop or donate items. The majority of the ReStore team is volunteers. Volunteers can come for a one-time experience or on a regular basis. One-time volunteers help with general store tasks such as loading/unloading items, cleaning and stocking the floor. Volunteers who commit to coming for one shift per week have the option of being trained in a variety of roles. To sign up for a one-time experience, go to www.cmhfh.org/pages/OnlineSign-up. Internship opportunities are available year around to gain business, management and marketing experience. Contact them for more information about volunteer roles, tours or about donations. Contact Melanie Blake, volunteer manager, at 320-248-8256 or [email protected].
For more information, contact Mary Krippner, United Way volunteer engagement coordinator, at 320-223-7991 or [email protected].