Muskies play first game of tournament on Sunday
Sartell Muskies baseball will play the Waconia Lakers at 11 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 30 at Cold Spring. The Muskies took first place in Region 1, allowing them a bye from the first weekend of the tournament, which was last weekend. The Muskies won the state championship in 2013 and 1992.
Coalition hosts gathering on substance use
A meeting, sponsored by the Benton County Prevention Coalition regarding substance use will be held from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10 in Sauk Rapids City Hall.
Underage tobacco and alcohol consumption in Minnesota are public health and safety problems that cause serious personal, social and economic consequences for adolescents and their families, communities and the state as a whole. In an effort to change perceptions and the culture surrounding substance use, the Benton County Substance Use Prevention Coalition was created. The mission of the BCSUPC is to empower Benton County youth to make safe and healthy choices to be substance free through prevention, education and promotional efforts.
The BCSUPC would like to invite you to attend an informational meeting to learn more about substance use in Benton County, our coalition and prevention efforts, and how you can become involved. A wide variety of representation from the community is needed in order to make this coalition successful. Please consider this opportunity to help support making positive changes for not only our youth, but the entire community. Register by Wednesday, Sept. 2 or call Julie Willman or Jennifer Brenny at 320-968-5087.
Tailgating held before football game
The high school student council will host a tailgate party on Friday, Sept. 18 from 4:30 p.m. until the football game begins at 7 p.m. Sartell will be playing ROCORI. The tailgating will be alongside the concessions at the football field at 748 Seventh St. N., Sartell.
Expert to speak on pornography’s impact on youth
Patrick Trueman, CEO and president of the National Center on Sexual Exploitation (formerly called Morality in Media), will deliver a talk for the general public titled “The Multimedia Assault on Our Nation’s Youth” from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 31 at the River’s Edge Convention Center in St. Cloud.
The presentation is for parents, schoolteachers, clergy, faith formation instructors and anyone interested in learning more about the ways children access pornography, the nature of the pornography they access and its specific effects on youth. Trueman also will address the effects of television and violent video games, which often include pornographic depictions.
“Through Patrick Trueman’s extensive experience as a lawyer, advocate and father, he will help make us more aware of the concerns and threats that pornography poses in today’s culture and practical steps we, as parents, can take to safeguard our children,” said Chris Codden, director of the Office of Marriage and Family for the Catholic Diocese of St. Cloud, which is sponsoring the talk.
Trueman served as chief of the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Criminal Division, U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., from 1988 to 1993. While there, he supervised the prosecution of child sex crimes, child pornography and obscenity. He managed an office of 20 prosecutors and support staff, and worked with the nation’s U.S. attorneys to initiate and coordinate federal prosecutions. Trueman directs the War on Illegal Pornography, a national coalition involving dozens of national, state and local groups that are educating the American public on the harm caused by pornography and calling for vigorous enforcement of federal laws against illegal pornography.
Trueman will be speaking earlier Aug. 31 as part of Diocesan Ministry Day on “A Catholic Response to the Sexual Exploitation Culture.” Anyone attending Diocesan Ministry Day may attend Trueman’s evening workshop for free. To register for the evening workshop, visit www.stcdio.org/PatrickTrueman or call 320-252-4721. To register for Diocesan Ministry Day, visit www.stcdio.org/dmd.
LEAF announces adopt-a-classroom project
The District 742 Local Education and Activities Foundation announces the official kickoff of the Adopt a Classroom Project for the fall of 2015. LEAF’s goal is to connect businesses, individuals and groups to specific classrooms to help provide needed supplies that the District is unable to fund. Supporters can “adopt” a classroom (Early Education, Elementary, Junior High or Senior High) by making a tax-deductable $250 contribution for the needed classroom supplies.
Currently, teachers often spend hundreds of dollars to provide basic supplies for classroom use. From basics such as permanent markers, pencils, notebooks and clean clothes for elementary children, to the more specialized items like sheet music, science kits, dry ice and mice for snake food; our teachers spend their own money to help insure a quality educational experience.
Businesses, individuals, grand-parents or groups can choose to adopt a specific classroom at a specific school, or make a $250 donation to LEAF and allow LEAF to choose a classroom randomly. LEAF will then inform the donor of the classroom they have adopted. The business or individual donor will receive a Certificate of Adoption that identifies the classroom they have adopted. 100 percent of all proceeds will go directly to the participating classrooms. In 2014, the St. Cloud Community adopted 73 classrooms with contributions totally $18,250. Please help us exceed that show of support for education in District 742 this year.
This is LEAF’s fifth year of the Adopt a Classroom project, which has dispersed $59,750 to 239 classrooms in the previous four years.
The Adopt a Classroom Form can be downloaded or contributions given at www.leaf742.org. Checks can be made out to LEAF and sent to: LEAF, P.O. Box 1132, St. Cloud, MN 56302.
Pollinator campaign offers farmers, others guidance
The Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District along with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture is encouraging farmers and rural landowners to take steps to help protect Minnesota’s insect pollinators.
The MDA’s “Protect Minnesota Pollinators” campaign began in 2014 when Minnesota State Fair visitors made a “Pollinator Promise” to protect bees, butterflies and other pollinators. Now, the 2015 campaign shifts beyond the metro area to encompass land throughout the entire state. The campaign encourages landowners to use Best Management Practices developed by the MDA and others to improve and create pollinator habitat, and to combine those practices with funding sources available at the state and federal levels to make a difference on the landscape.
“There are ways urban and rural landowners can improve pollinator habitat,” said Jason Selvog, District Technician with Stearns County SWCD, “Every butterfly garden and best management practice helps to save these important insects.”
Scientific studies show that a decline in these beneficial insects means a loss of important ecological services, such as pollination and pest control. Pollinators depend on flowering plants for their food and some need undisturbed ground and vegetation for shelter.
“From master gardeners working with homeowners, to the efforts of the state, cities, counties, farmers and other rural landowners — we appreciate the work these and many others have done to address the challenges in our pollinator populations,” said Kevin Cavanaugh with the MDA pollinator outreach staff.
The MDA’s Best Management Practices to Promote Pollinators in Agricultural Landscapes is available online at www.mda.state.mn.us/pollinators. You can also find more information on the stories of rural Minnesotans’ pollinator habit efforts at that site. If you’re interested in creating, improving or managing pollinator-friendly habitat, contact Jason Selvog with the SWCD at 320-251-7800 ext 3.
United Way Volunteer Opportunities
Youth for Christ seeks
adults to work with kids
Get in on the action. Central Minnesota Youth for Christ is always in need of caring, mature adults to meet with the many teens they serve. Volunteers must go through a screening process. They offer on-going training to help you be encouraged and effective in your role. Contact Central MN Youth for Christ at 320- 251-8711.
Volunteer for United Way Day of Caring ~ More than 200 volunteers still needed
United Way of Central Minnesota will host Day of Caring on Sept. 24. Day of Caring is designed to bring people together to volunteer on community projects. The day will begin with a kick-off breakfast at United Way’s office from 7:30-8:30 a.m. Volunteers will be provided with a continental breakfast during the kick-off and a free T-shirt (T-shirts can be picked up on Sept. 18 at the United Way office and worn on Day of Caring). This is a great opportunity to volunteer with co-workers, friends, family and service groups for your community. Projects include painting, packaging food, fall clean up, children’s activities and crafts. Project sign-up will be available on our website through Sept. 11. Visit www.unitedwayhelps.org to register. Contact Mary Krippner, volunteer engagement coordinator, at 320-223-7991.
District 742 seeks literacy, math tutors
Would you love to help children grow their reading or math skills, succeed in school and get extra support? If your answer is yes, you can be trained to serve as a tutor with Minnesota Reading Corps or Minnesota Math Corps at St. Cloud School District 742. Whether you want to explore an educational career, reenter the workforce, or give back to your community, you can succeed as a tutor. As a Literacy Tutor, you will use strategies that help students believe in themselves and succeed. As a Math Tutor, you will help 4th – 8th grade students prepare for Algebra. They offer part time and full time options and tutor typically serve most of their hours during the regular school day. In addition to extensive training, tutors will receive on-site support from specially trained school mentors. Tutors come from many backgrounds and include recent high school and college grads, career changers, stay-at-home parents and retirees. Tutors may earn a living allowance, educational award, federal student loan forbearance, and other benefits, and have the change to make a real difference in the life of a child. To apply or learn more about the research based programs, position qualifications, and benefits, visit https://minnesotareadingcorps.org or https://minnesotamathcorps.org (please do not apply via the district website). Contact Minnesota Reading or Math Corp at [email protected] or 866-859-2825.
Assist during Emergency Trauma Center construction
Urgent need for volunteers through early 2016 to assist during Emergency Trauma Center Construction. Volunteers are needed to help guide our patients and guests through the construction near the Emergency Trauma Center. Volunteers are a valuable part of our health care team that shares a common objective of providing Care Above All for our patients, clients and their families. Volunteering is the perfect way to make a difference in people’s lives, put your talents to use, develop new skills and even explore careers. Contact CentraCare Volunteer Services at [email protected] or 320-255-5638.
Assumption Home activities volunteer
Assist with the moving of Assumption Home (skilled nursing facility) residents in wheelchairs to and from group recreation programs and activities. Assist Therapeutic Recreation Staff in execution of group recreation programs and activities for Assumption Home residents. Activities include Garden Club, Music, Card Party, Bingo, Ladies Spa, Men’s Club…and many more. Activities are held seven days a week at various times, volunteering is flexible, rewarding, and so fun! Contact Mary Rademacher, Assumption Community, at 320-685-3693
For more information, contact Mary Krippner, United Way Volunteer Engagement Coordinator at 320-223-7991 or [email protected]
CentraCare recruiting for patient/family program
CentraCare Health is proud to announce its new Patient & Family Partner Program, which consists of current or former patients or family members who represent the collective voice of our patients and families. Members serve voluntarily and give valuable feedback and ideas on improving the patient experience. No special experience or background is required.
Members are expected to actively participate in discussions, share their stories, recommend solutions and will serve on committees, improvement projects, speak at CentraCare Health events and, if selected, sit on a Patient & Family Advisory Council.
To learn more about the Patient & Family Partner Program, visit www.centracare.com/patientpartners or call 320-255-5638.