Tree drop-off set for Jan. 7
Christmas trees can be dropped off from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7 at the Sartell Compost Site. There is no charge for the drop-off service, but each motorist should bring at least one non-perishable food donation for the local food shelf, which badly needs restocking after the holidays. Residents who have a compost-site permit can also bring any yard debris left over from fall. Directions from Sartell City Hall: Take Pinecone Road south to the four-way stop at Heritage Drive and Pinecone Road. Take a right onto CR 133 for about two miles to CR 4. Take a right onto CR 4, and the next right on 30th Avenue N. The compost site is on your right.
Cabin Fever set Jan. 27 at Pleasantview Elementary
Cabin Fever is set from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27 at Pleasantview Elementary School, 1009 Sixth Ave. N., Sauk Rapids. It is a fun-filled event for the whole family. Activities include bingo, cakewalk, crafts, bowling, archery and more. Pizza, cookies and drinks will be available for purchase. Proceeds benefit the Pleasantview PTAC.
Car seat events offer free checks
Make sure your children and grandchildren travel safely in your vehicle. Have car seats checked for correct installation from 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays, Jan. 18, Feb. 15, March 15 or April 19 within the Gold Cross Ambulance garage, 2800 Seventh St. N., St. Cloud. Call 320-656-7021 to make an appointment. All appointments are free. A car seat check is encouraged for those with children ages 12 and younger, including those in booster seats.
The goal of the car seat check is to:
• Demonstrate how to install your car seat properly every time;
• Check to make sure you can install the car seat correctly yourself;
• Provide you with education and knowledge to protect your child.
We ask you have the car seat installed to the best of your ability before coming to the car seat checkup event. Also, it is recommended that you bring the following to your appointment:
• The manual for your car seat;
• The manual for your vehicle;
• If possible, the infant/child who will use the car seat.
New program to help girls cope with traumas
Project Hope, a therapy group for teen girls who have experienced traumas, is about to form in the greater St. Cloud area. Its first meeting is slated for Tuesday, Jan. 10 at the Village Family Service Center, 4140 Thielman Lane, Unit 303 in St. Cloud. The program for girls ages 12 to 18 will be led by two mental-health clinicians and a counselor. Participants will learn about trauma, how to increase self-esteem and self-empowerment, how to negotiate relationships and how to manage overwhelming feelings and behaviors. To register or for more information, call the Village at 320-253-5930.
Between 2 and 9 percent of the population suffers from some degree of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Identifying those affected by trauma and providing early intervention is crucial, and that’s the goal of this psychotherapy group.
Project Hope will be led by two mental health clinicians, Sam Schofield, a licensed marriage and family therapist, and Amber Manders, a licensed professional clinical counselor, as well as intern Krystina Rasmussen. The group will meet weekly for eight sessions. The group is adapted from the “Love and Life” curriculum (www.ccdcl.org).
“Bad things happen in this world, and unfortunately bad things happen in our own community,” Schofield said. “Many teen girls have been impacted by violence, abuse and neglect, and these experiences can negatively affect how girls feel about themselves and others. This group aims to help girls recover from the difficult experiences they’ve had and feel empowered to make positive choices for themselves and their relationships.”
To register for the group, call the Village at 320-253-5930.
Montessori elementary is coming St. Cloud area
What do Prince William and Prince Henry, the founders of Google, the founder of Amazon, Jackie Kennedy, and Sean “P Diddy” Combs, a Nobel Prize winner and countless other ultra successful people have in common? They all attended Montessori school.
Registration for the 2017-18 school year for 27 children entering first- through third-grades is now being accepted through Jan. 13 at Central Minnesota Montessori, a new Montessori elementary school starting in the St. Cloud area, which will employ highly trained Montessori teachers who are intimately familiar with the authentic Montessori teaching materials and philosophy behind them to to provide a complete Montessori program which considers the emotional, intellectual, physical and social development of the total child by addressing the uniqueness of each in a nurturing, emotionally secure and academically excellent environment. Each child will also develop a lifelong love of learning and discovery. Fourth- through sixth-grades will be added in coming years. A registration wrap-up will be held from 2-4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 13 at Caribou Coffee, 4135 W. Division St., St. Cloud. For more information, visit thenewsleaders.com and click on Jan. 6 criers.
If you are unable to attend either event, you may find the registration forms on the Central Minnesota Montessori Website at www.centralMNmontessori.com or contact us by e-mail at centralMNmontessori@gmail.com to have the forms sent to you. Please print, fill out and mail the registration forms and your $100 registration fee to Central Minnesota Montessori at P.O. Box 7952, St. Cloud, Minn. 56302. Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/centralmnmontessori/ to watch for upcoming events and fundraisers. If you would like to help support our school, we whole-heartedly appreciate any contribution to our school by donating to the following website: https://www.youcaring.com/central-minnesota-montessori-654790.
Great Northern Theater Company to hold annual meeting Jan. 6
Great Northern Theater Company will hold its annual meeting at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6 at the Great Blue Heron restaurant, 305 Fifth Ave. S., Cold Spring. A social hour will start at 6 p.m. Those who attend the social hour are welcome to order food items from the Great Blue Heron menu. Anyone may attend the meeting. Theater members with voting privileges will vote for new members of the board. Candidates are long-time theater activists Brenda Brown, St. Joseph; and Amy Hunter and Vicki Meyer, both of Richmond.
Voting for new members of the board of directors will take place. Candidates include Vicki Meyer of Richmond, a veteran of GNTC who has produced and acted in many shows. She has been active with the theater company since its inception in 1991. She is currently president of the board; this will be her second consecutive term.
Brenda Brown of St. Joseph, returns to the GNTC arena. She was in the very first show GNTC produced, as well as recently in Shrek the Musical with her sons performing alongside her on stage. She has experience in major and planned giving, strategic planning and works as a senior development officer with College of St. Benedict/St. John’s University.
Amy Hunter of Richmond, recently directed our fall show Drinking Habits. She has extensive experience in acting, directing and grant writing. She is a member of the Minnesota Citizens Concerned for the Arts and was active in getting the Legacy Amendment put into place which has put in place a stable funding mechanism for the arts in Minnesota.
All are welcome to join us for the annual meeting. Those eligible to vote must have participated in some capacity with the theater company during the past year or be a lifetime member.
United Way volunteer opportunities
Become a ‘Big’ to a ‘Little’
Big Brothers Big Sisters, based locally in St. Cloud, is known for making big differences a “little” at a time. The organization is now seeking volunteers. It pairs “Big Brothers” and “Big Sisters” with “Little Brothers” and “Little Sisters” so good bonds develop that promote kindness, guidance and support for the children. The “Bigs” meet with their “Littles” three to four times per month for community-based and school-based mentoring programs. There are also volunteer tasks for “Big Couples” and “Big Families.” To find out more about the program, call Rachel at 320-253-1616 or email recruiter@bbbscentralmn.org.
United Way has volunteer options
There is never a shortage of volunteer opportunities, not if people check out the United Way Volunteer Center. The organization promotes year-round volunteerism, connect people with local volunteer opportunities and highlights a few volunteer jobs each week. To receive a listing or for additional options, contact United Way at 320-252-0227 or go to www.unitedwayhelps.org.
Volunteer jobs abound at RSVP
Volunteer opportunities abound at the Greater St. Cloud Area RSVP for men and women 55 and older. The volunteer tasks can be done at any of the more than 200 human-service agencies throughout the area. What’s needed are compassionate volunteers, including many who have highly flexible commitments. The RSVP staff works with those who want to volunteer to match them up with the tasks that fit a person’s interests and skills. To find out more, call 320-255-7295 or visit rsvp@ci.stcloud.mn.us RSVP stands for the French request often printed on invitations: Repondez s’il vous plait (Reply please).
Families need furniture
Some children in low-income families sometimes or always have to sleep on floors. That’s why the Community Furniture Program is seeking beds, couches, love seats and other furniture on which children can sleep. Other furniture needed for economically-strapped families include recliners, rockers, kitchen tables and chairs, end tables, lamps, bedroom dressers and complete bed sets (other than king-size). The furniture can be used, but it should not have any stains, rust, tears, mold or rips on it. Tax receipts and pick-up are available. Call the Community Furniture Program at 320-656-9004.
Medical installers sought
Volunteers are needed for people willing to help install medical equipment in people’s homes. CentraCare Health will assist the volunteers who will work with the CentraCare Medical Alert Service Department on how to do the installations. Training and mileage reimbursement are provided. Volunteers are needed in St. Cloud and many surrounding cities and areas. To learn more, contact Jyl at 320-257-5808 or visit volunteer@centracare.com.
VA needs greeters
Volunteers are needed to greet all visitors at the St. Cloud VA Health Care System. The volunteers will learn how to greet visitors and to guide them to where they need to go at the facility. Various shifts are available from 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Mondays-Fridays. For more information, contact Angie Paulson, volunteer services coordinator, at 320-255-6365 or visit angela.paulson.va.gov.
For more information, contact Mary Krippner, United Way volunteer engagement coordinator at 320-223-7991 or mkrippner@unitedwayhelps.org.
