Hot off the press
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‘Night at the Oscars’ by John Augustin
A “Night at the Oscars,” sponsored by Sartell Senior Connection, will be held WHAT TIME???? Tuesday, Feb. 11 at the Sartell District Service Center, 212 3rd Ave. N. John Augustin has been a fan of the Acadamy Awards since he saw Grace Kelly in the 1954 Academy Awards. He has recorded every show since 1979 and has a personal library with hundreds of books and movies pertaining to the Oscars. Augustin will speak on the history of the Academy Awards and how it started. Since the nominations will have just been announced Augustin will make some predictions. There will be time for questions and looking at memorabilia.
Registration now open for summer youth baseball
Registration for Summer 2014 Youth Baseball is now open. To register first- through ninth-grade youth, visit www.sartellbaseball.com and click “On-line Registration.” General registration will be open until April 1 (first- and second-grade registration will stay open until May 1). For registration questions, contact Mike Connolly at 320-252-5743.
Try potting tomorrow at Farmers’ Market
Ready for spring? Get your hands dirty at the Farmers’ Market from 10-1 this Saturday, Feb. 8 at Sartell City Hall. Potters wheels will be available to try your hand at making something.
Dollars for Scholars apps now online
2014 Scholarship applications are available online at: http://StJosephArea.dollarsforscholars.org. Click on: Students and Parents tab. Click on: Click to Login. Click on: “click here” above Student Login to register. If you need assistance call 320-363-7721.
Student ambassador hosts Parents’ Night Off Feb. 14
Parents’ Night Off will be held from 6-9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14 at Celebration Lutheran Church, 1500 Pinecone Road. Ayleigh Hammond, a Sartell student, is earning money so she may travel with the People to People Student Ambassador Program this summer. Hammond will babysit with friends (and adult supervision). Call 320-203-1050 to register. For information regarding Hammond’s endeavors, see the Dec. 5, 2013 edition of the Sartell Newsleader at www.thenewsleaders.com.
Anna Marie’s seeks support for new pet shelter
Local domestic violence nonprofit is seeking community support to raise funds for a new pet shelter to be built onsite, which will provide women fleeing domestic abuse with a safe place to keep their pets. Approximately 48-percent of domestic violence survivors delay leaving an abusive relationship because they do not have a safe place for their pets. Anna Marie’s Alliance is upgrading its current pet facilities with the help of PetSmart and Cheryl Lightle.
In response to that startling statistic, Anna Marie’s started a Pet Foster Care Program in 2008. The program allowed its residents to bring their animals with them when they came to the shelter, fleeing domestic abuse. Caring community members would volunteer their time and open their homes to these pets so the pets could be in a safe caring environment until the pets could be reunited with their family members. Along with this program, the organization had a small, outdoor kennel, that could be used in emergencies and when the weather allowed.
PetSmart donated $10,000 to Anna Marie’s in fall of 2013 to support the pet program and the building of a new shelter. After securing the required permits from the city, Anna Marie’s has been given the green light to build a permanent, year-round shelter onsite that can house five dogs and five cats, along with smaller caged animals. To meet building requirements, the shelter must include proper drainage, water and temperature control. The costs have added up quickly and now Anna Marie’s needs your support!
To help make this project a reality, Lightle has offered to match up to $10,000 in donations in honor of her schnauzer, Willie. Anna Marie’s is asking the community to step up to this generous challenge match and consider a donation in any amount.
For more information, visit www.annamaries.org or call Jacque French at 320-251-7203.
United Way volunteer opportunities
Sexual Assault Center seeks support counselors
Volunteering at Central Minnesota Sexual Assault Center is both a rewarding and challenging way to get experience helping individuals to overcome a crisis in their life. Volunteering will help to build skills for future career choices and give you the satisfaction of helping an individual through a traumatic time in their life. Our main volunteer opportunity is on our crisis line, taking phone calls from victims and their support people, responding to local hospitals and working with law enforcement. There are also opportunities to get involved with community events like Take Back the Night, and to help with fundraising events. Our program does require a 40-hour training that qualifies you as a support counselor on the crisis line. Contact Renae Lee, volunteer coordinator, at 320-251-4357.
“Where Everybody Knows Your Name” – Volunteer companions needed
Opportunity Matters is looking for volunteer companions to provide a fun and easy way to make a HUGE difference in the lives of the individuals they serve. Volunteer companions are matched up with an individual to do activities such as going shopping, playing a favorite board game or attending a movie. A variety of opportunities are available to match your interest level and schedule availability. Opportunities with females and males to ensure your interest levels match. Contact Brenda Eggerth, volunteer and communications manager, at 320-240-1900 or visit www.opportunitymatters.org.
Tutors needed in Cold Spring
Volunteers are needed to go into individual family homes and tutor one-on-one with K-6 youth for one-two hours per week. Hours vary based on your schedule and the schedule of the family you will be working with. It’s an extremely flexible activity, and volunteers have found it to be very enjoyable and rewarding. They are looking for volunteers who enjoy working with children and want to build a positive mentor relationship with their students. No training is necessary. Contact Maria Greaves, AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer development, 320-685-3949.
True Friends
True Friends Leadership Development volunteering offers individuals ages 16+ a unique and well-rounded program, particularly in assisting counselors and campers in Annandale. Through volunteering with their core programs, you will be infused in activities that lead to personal growth, self-discovery and leadership development. Volunteers will work hand-in-hand assisting agency staff and campers within a diverse range of activities such as swimming, arts and crafts, music, nature study, rock-climbing and other fun camp-based activities too. The overarching goal of the program is to teach the universal and wide-ranging skills of leadership that can be used within the school setting, home and community. Individuals can volunteer for just one weekend up to as many weekends as they choose. Training will be provided, as well as food and on-site shared housing. The program operates weekly 5 p.m. Friday-5 p.m. Sunday. Contact Amanda Sorell, True Friends, at 952-852-0101 ext. 389.
Cool cleaners
Great River Area Faith in Action is looking for volunteers to complete light housekeeping, routine cleaning and other light chores for an older adult or person with a disability. Volunteers must enjoy working with people, a desire to establish a relationship with an older adult or physically challenged person and comfortable with physical disabilities. The time commitment is about two hours per week or as needed. Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age. Contact Cherise Robb, Great River Area Faith in Action, at 320-258-8678.
For more information, contact Mary Krippner, United Way community volunteer coordinator, at 320-223-7991 or mkrippner@unitedwayhelps.org.
AgStar seeks scholarship apps
The AgStar Fund for Rural America, the corporate giving program of AgStar Financial Services, is now accepting applications for its high school senior scholarship program, which awards up to 25 students with $1,000 scholarships.
The AgStar High School Scholarship Program is designed for students who have an interest in an ag-related field, are pursuing an ag-related degree or those with an ag or rural background.
“AgStar is proud to offer this program for the 10th year in a row,” said John Monson, chair of AgStar’s Fund Board of Trustees. “We want to show our commitment to the youth of rural Minnesota and Wisconsin as they pursue their passions and help mold a strong future for agriculture.”
Applicants must have a 3.0 grade-point average and live in AgStar’s local service area. Applicants are selected based on academic achievement, leadership characteristics and community involvement. Four winners will be chosen from each of AgStar’s five regions. The remaining five scholarships will be awarded to students in any of the regions who meet the criteria.
To apply for the scholarship, students should visit AgStar.com to download the application form. Applications must be postmarked by April 1 to be considered.
To date, the fund has given $174,500 in scholarships to 180 students through the high school scholarship program, which began in 2005. Since its inception in 2001, the AgStar Fund has donated more than $4 million to organizations working to improve the future of rural America.
