St. John’s Prep hosts Discovery Day
Families interested in learning about the innovative curriculum and other opportunities at St. John’s Prep are encouraged to attend the upcoming Discovery Day on Friday, Jan. 17. Students currently in grades 5-11 are welcome to attend classes, meet the teachers and students and experience what it’s like to be a part of the St. John’s Prep community. Parents are also invited to attend an information session with administrators of the school.
Guest students arrive before 8 a.m. and are matched with a “host” student for the day. The Middle School (for incoming grades 6-8) Discovery Day ends after lunch at approximately 12:30 p.m.. For the Upper School (for incoming grades 9-12), Discovery Day guests are invited to spend the entire day in classes.
Registration for Discovery Day is required. Call us today at 320-363-3321. Due to limited space, we encourage interested families to apply now for the 2014-15 academic year.
Founded in 1857, St. John’s Prep is a Catholic/Benedictine, co-ed, private day and boarding school, providing students of all faiths in grades 6-12, with a college-preparatory curriculum. For more information, visit www.sjprep.net or call 320-363-3321.
Senior Connection hosts ‘Visiting Cuba’ Jan. 14
Jim O’Neill will present his personal experiences in Cuba at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14 at the Sartell Senior Center, 212 3rd Ave. N. Based on his recent trip to Havana in September 2013, O’Neill will offer three views of Cuba: Cuba as presented by the government, Cuba as seen by the tourist and Cuba as lived by the everyday citizen. This will be a great opportunity to hear more about our neighbors so close yet so far away. Cuban food samples and refreshments with be served. Call 320-253-4036 for more information.
Jan. 12 breaksfast to benefit Dirkes family
A benefit breakfast for the Ben Dirkes family will be held from 8 a.m. to noon Sunday, Jan. 12 at St. Augustine Church Parish Hall, 442 2nd St. SE, St. Cloud. Dirkes is recovering from three surgeries for a brain tumor. For his story visit the Caring Bridge site: www.caringbridge.org/visit/bendirkes.
Jan. 11 winter market celebrates heat wave
The Sartell’s Winter Market will celebrate the heat wave from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11 inside City Hall. Start your year off right by shopping locally and eating healthy. Many of your favorite summertime/Market Monday vendors will be there with a wide array of products.
St. Joseph Lions host buffet Jan. 17
St. Joseph Lions will host a chicken and ham buffet from 5-8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 17 in the El Paso Club, St. Joseph. There will also be a meat raffle, silent auction, winter raffle and bake sale.
Hot off the press
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GRRL reading program in full swing through Feb. 22
Between the holidays and the spring thaw stretches a period of dark nights and cold days that may be the best reading time of the year. You can make it even better by taking part in Great River Regional Library’s Winter Reading Program. The program is in full swing at all 32 library locations and ends Saturday, Feb. 22. The program is for adults and teens in sixth-grade or older. Its theme is “Make Tracks to Your Library.”
By completing and turning in a drawing slip after reading five books during the program, participants are included in prize drawings for mugs, calendars and grand- prize gift cards. There are no reading restrictions. Adults are encouraged to enjoy fiction, non-fiction books or audiobooks of their choice, and voracious readers can turn in multiple slips to increase their chances of winning.
Winter reading will also be encouraged by community read events featuring “To Kill A Mockingbird,” author talks, book clubs and other events at many GRRL locations. Check the Events page at www.griver.org, or pick up an Event Guide at your local library for more information.
Great River Regional Library provides library services at 32 public libraries in Stearns, Benton, Sherburne, Morrison, Todd and Wright counties. It provides Central Minnesota residents with nearly 1 million books, CDs and DVDs, 250 public computers, programming and information services.
United Way volunteer opportunities
Kids Fighting Hunger sets Jan. 20 event
A Kids Fighting Hunger packaging event will be held Monday, Jan. 20 at Salem Lutheran Church, 90 Riverside Drive SE, St. Cloud. In addition to food packaging, educational breakout sessions will be available to allow volunteers to learn about hunger. Volunteers can sign up for two-hour shifts, individually or in groups and can be as young as 6, if accompanied by a parent. A suggested donation of $10 per child, $15 per college student and $20 per adult volunteer is asked to help cover the cost of ingredients used for packaging meals. Kids Fighting Hunger of Central Minnesota is a volunteer led, international hunger relief campaign committed to combating hunger and poverty worldwide and locally by providing nutritious meals to those in need. Sign up to volunteer at www.unitedwayhelps.org. Contact Mary Krippner at 320-223-7991 or [email protected].
Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Minnesota
The Boys and Girls Club can always use volunteers at any of their 16 sites. Whether you’re interested in playing basketball with teens, reading to a child or doing paperwork in the administrative office, they can use you. Go online and complete the Volunteer Application Form. Contact Boys and Girls Club at 320-252-7616 or visit www.bgcmn.org.
Assist seniors with disabilities
Talahi Care Center is seeking volunteers to assist in the daily care of seniors with disabilities who are brought to their facility during the daytime for care, meals and most of all great socialization opportunities. Volunteers are essential for helping carry out activities such as crafting, playing board games, cards, going on outings, walks and more. Many volunteers who assist with this program begin with short-term hours and continue for years. Contact Amy Comstock, Talahi Care Center volunteer coordinator, at 320-258-7031.
EZ Go drivers
The Sisters of the Order of St. Benedict has a fun volunteer opportunity for you. Give nuns a ride to different areas on campus in a golf cart. A three- to four-hour shift in the morning or afternoon is helpful. Contact Jean Schwartz, OSB, volunteer coordinator at 320-363-7105.
Tax site manager trainees, individual tax preparers, tax site assistants
Volunteers are needed at local Volunteers Income Tax Assistants free local tax-site locations to assist as individual tax preparers and tax site assistants. Tax preparers are responsible for completing individual tax returns for low- to moderate-income individuals and families. No experience required. Tax preparers are required to attend training in mid-January and complete a test as required by the IRS in order to be certified to prepare taxes. A training session will be offered on Saturday, Jan.18 and three evening sessions, Jan. 21, 22 and 23. If a volunteer cannot attend those sessions, alternate training is available. Tax site assistants greet customers, screen taxpayers, assist with the sign-in process and insure the tax site runs smoothly. There will be a two-hour training session for tax site specialists. Sites are open Mondays from 3-8 p.m., Tuesdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Wednesdays from 3-7 p.m., Thursdays from 4 to 8:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The tax service runs from the end of January to mid-April. Volunteers are asked to commit to four hours per week and need to pass a felony background check. All levels of volunteers needed, No experience necessary and everyone – bilingual-speaking individuals, interpreters, high school students, college students, retired persons – is encouraged to apply. Contact Jason Neuerburg, Tri-CAP tax program manager at 320- 257-4505.
MyChart promotions representative
CentraCare Health Systems need volunteers to promote and assist with the setup of MyChart for patients leaving the Plaza Family Medicine clinics. Candidate will gain experience in patient interactions and clinic operations as well as learning the skills to set patients up with MyChart access. Volunteer once a week for four hours at CentraCare Health Plaza. Contact the volunteer office at 320-255-5638 or e-mail [email protected].
For more information, contact Mary Krippner, United Way community volunteer coordinator, at 3200-223-7991 or [email protected].
Waite Park library offers events
Writers Group – Jan. 13
The Waite Park Public Library’s Writers Group for adults will meet frin 6:30-8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 13. Each meeting features a writing prompt and a writing theme. The January writing theme is Escape and Getting Away. This is an opportunity for writers to share their writing with others.
Basic Computer and Internet Help – Jan. 14
Adults who need help learning basic computer operations may sign up for Basic Computer and Internet Help, taking place from 11 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Jan. 14 at the Al Ringsmuth Public Library, Waite Park. An experienced volunteer will provide assistance in setting up an email account, doing a basic web search or using Word software. Advanced registration is required; call 320-253-9359.
Teen Movie Night – Jan. 14
Watch the film based on the book “The Hunger Games” by Susanne Collins during Teen Movie Night from 6-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14 at the Al Ringsmuth Public Library, Waite Park. The film is rated PG 13 and the attendance age limit is 13 to 17. Popcorn provided.
Evening Book Club – Jan. 16
An evening book club for adults will meet from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16 at the Al Ringsmuth Public Library, Waite Park. The book for discussion is “A Tree Grows In Brooklyn” by Betty Smith. Newcomers are welcome.
For more information, call the library at 320-253-9359.
Great River Regional Library provides library services at 32 public libraries in Stearns, Benton, Sherburne, Morrison, Todd and Wright counties. It provides Central Minnesota residents with nearly 1 million books, CDs and DVDs, 250 public computers, and programming and information services.