Local Blend hosts two musical performances
The Local Blend, downtown St. Joseph, will host two musical performances in early March. The first is original folk rocker “The Wrong Omar,” a solo acoustic show, at 8 p.m. Friday, March 1. Singer-songwriter Joey Shaheen, aka “The Wrong Omar,” continues his “Sled Dawg Slushy” tour in support of his recent release “Shoot Up The Town.” The Wrong Omar presents a night of roots/folk/rock with blues harp, stories and rock ‘n’ roll aphorisms. The second event is Iowa pop/folk duo Har-di-Har from 8-10 p.m. Saturday, March 9. All ages are welcome for this free event. For more information, visit www.thelocalblend.net.
Dinner, auction benefits childhood cancer organzation, Avon parks
A spaghetti dinner and silent auction benefit for Isaac’s Journey (childhood cancer) and Avon Community Betterment (parks), sponsored by the Avon Women of Today, will be held from 4-7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 2 in Avon Community Church, 410 Avon Ave. N.
SFX Church to present ‘Music for the Masses’
A “Music for the Masses” concert will take place at St. Francis Xavier Church at 6 p.m. Friday, March 1, in conjunction with the parish’s fish fry to take place before and after the concert.
Organizers of the concert are hoping a free-will offering as admission can raise enough for a “Pay It Forward for Lent.” Any raised funds would be used to upgrade and to purchase television-related equipment so the St. Cloud Catholic Diocese can continue to televise Masses to elderly, hospitalized and homebound parishioners. Such televised Masses are especially crucial for those people during winter weather.
The “Music for the Masses” concert will be performed by an ensemble of vocalists, guitarists, bassists, percussionists, keyboardists and other instrumentalists. Musicians from other parishes are welcome to bring their instruments to add to the entertainment.
U of M seeks participants in teen-driver study
Sartell, St. Joseph, St. Cloud and surrounding areas have been selected as recruitment locations for a teen-driver study being conducted by the University of Minnesota.
The purpose of the project is to understand teen-driver safety and behaviors as well as parental involvement with teens during the learning phase of driving.
The university seeks to recruit 40 teen drivers from the Sartell and St. Joseph areas who currently have their learner’s permit, will receive their provisional driver’s license between Feb. 1 and April 30, 2013, are age 16 at that time, and are able to begin the study within one month of their licensure start date.
As part of the study, teens will receive a free Samsung Galaxy S3 smartphone and monthly data, text and talk service plan for one year. Additionally, teens will receive a monthly $25 incentive at the end of the year-long study totaling $300. For more information, contact Nichole Morris at nlmorris@umn.edu or call 612-624-4614.
Alzheimer’s Association hosts education series
“Get the Facts,” an educational series of free classes hosted by the Alzheimer’s Assocation Minnesota-North Dakota will be held from 6:30-8 p.m. monthly on Thursdays through May 23 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 4310 CR 137, St. Cloud. Classes are designed for anyone concerned about memory loss, Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
Classes are as follows: Feb. 28 – Practice Tips for Caregivers; Caregiver Panel; March 21 – Dementia: There is Hope; April 25 – Dealing with Mid- to Late-stage Alzheimer’s and Dementia; and May 23 – Hidden, Though Still There.
Alzheimer’s disease is a growing epidemic and is now the nation’s sixth-leading cause of death. As baby boomers age, the number of individuals living with Alzheimer’s will rapidly escalate, increasing well beyond today’s estimated 5.2 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s today. In Minnesota alone, there are 100,000 people living with Alzheimer’s.
“Our goal is to educate the community and raise the level of awareness about memory loss, Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias,” said Carol Thelen, regional center director for the Alzheimer’s Association. “We want them to know there is help and hope for people living with memory loss and for those caring for them.”
Scheduled speakers include Thelen and other staff from the Alzheimer’s Association, a panel of individuals caring for someone with the disease and health-care professionals.
No registration is necessary, and individuals can attend one, several or all of the classes. For information, call 320-257-0699.
Heart Center recruiting patients for multinational clinical study
The CentraCare Heart and Vascular Center at St. Cloud Hospital is seeking patients to participate in a clinic research study. Male or female participants who are 50 years of age or older may be eligible to participate if they have had a myocardial infarction one to three years ago and have at least one of the following risk factors: age 65 or older; diabetes mellitus requiring medication; documented history of a second prior MI; multi-vessel coronary artery disease; or chronic non-end stage renal dysfunction.
This study is being carried out to see if an investigational drug, given twice daily in addition to aspirin therapy, decreases the frequency of cardiovascular events (such as death from heart disease, heart attack or stroke). An investigational drug is a drug being tested and not yet approved for sale in the United States by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Approximately 21,000 patients will take part in this study globally. Patients will participate in the study for approximately 38 months. Study visits will take place every four months for the first year and then every six months thereafter. The investigational drug during the study will be provided at no charge. Participants will be reimbursed for their travel expenses.
For additional eligibility requirements and information about this study, please contact Research Coordinator Peggy Dahl, R.N., CentraCare Heart and Vascular Center, at 320-251-2700, ext. 52187, or e-mail dahlp@centracare.com.
United Way volunteer opportunities
Readers for the 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.
Support warm fuzzies
RSVP is diligently working to provide appropriate winter weather items to individuals in Central Minnesota. In 2012, 14 RSVP volunteers knitted and crocheted 786 beautiful sets of mittens, hats and scarves for children and adults. To help us continue this wonderful service, RSVP is looking for donations of new and colorful yarn that is suitable for knitted/crocheted hats and mittens. Contact RSVP office if you have yarn to donate at 320-255-7295.
Cooking Party
Come and be part of our meal program on Saturdays and Sundays preparing a meal for the Salvation Army Shelter and VA clients. They provide all the items, you put the meal together. Got a favorite recipe everyone loves? Share your talents in the kitchen with your friends, family or church group and help others at the same time. Call for open dates. Summer time is a great time to grill those favorite outdoor picnic items. You will come in one shift prior to your actual day to get a brief training on the equipment, where you would find your items and more. Typically this is done on a Thursday afternoon but other days are available as well. Contact Barb Nelson, the Salvation Army volunteer manager, at 320-252-4552.
Read to preschool-age children
Reach-Up Inc. has multiple classrooms with lots of wonderful preschool-age children who would love to have someone from the community come in and read to them. There is not a huge time commitment with this opportunity, nor do you have to make this an ongoing commitment. But if you have a love of reading and enjoy preschool age children, this is a perfect match for you. Volunteer readers will go through an orientation, complete a background check and fill out a one-page information/emergency contact form prior to volunteering. Background checks will be paid for by the volunteer at a cost of $20. Contact Laurie Whitaker, Reach-Up Inc. volunteer coordinator, at 320-253-8110.
Help the Scoutreach program
Boy Scouts of America is looking for volunteers to help with their Scoutreach Program. Volunteers help teach at-risk youth the values of Boy Scouting through crafts, games and activities at various sites after school. A background check will be completed and Youth Protection Training is required by BSA policy. Contact Jane Holmberg, Scoutreach coordinator, at 320-251-3930.
Community Emergency Response Team seeks volunteers
Stearns County and Benton County emergency management departments are teamed up to prepare citizens for disasters and emergencies through the Stearns and Benton County Community Emergency Response Team. Volunteers are trained to respond to themselves, their families and their neighborhoods in times of disaster. CERT curriculum was developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to improve homeland security in local communities. Training covers the areas of disaster preparedness, fire suppression, medical operations, light search and rescue, team organization, disaster psychology and terrorism awareness. The 20-hour course teaches volunteers to assist in the community when emergency responders are overwhelmed in the event of a large-scale disaster. To join this group of valued volunteers, you must be at least 18 years of age, live or work in Stearns or Benton counties and must pass a criminal background check. Become a member by attending the upcoming free eight-week training course, held from 6-8:30 p.m. Tuesday evenings in April and May in St. Cloud. Contact Angie at 320-255-7265 or email Angie.Trulson@ci.stcloud.mn.us.
For more information, contact Mary Krippner, United Way community volunteer coordinator, at 320-223-7991 or mkrippner@unitedwayhelps.org.
