Meetings set July 16, 21 for sales tax project input
Two sales tax project input meetings, where residents will have the opportunity to share their opinions on potential uses for the one-half-cent sales tax, will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 16 and at 5:30 p.m. Monday, July 21 at St. Joseph City Hall, 25 College Ave. N.
International exchange students seek host families in St. Joseph
Visiting students, ages 15-18, from around the world including Germany, Spain, Switzerland and Thailand are seeking host families in and around St. Joseph for the upcoming 2014-15 academic school year. Host families are needed for the fall semester and full school year. Host families (traditional families, singles, empty nesters and others) serve as mentors and a home base for their student. Visiting students participate as active members of the family and integrate into their host’s daily routines and traditions just like any other family member. Hosting an international student is a great way to explore a new culture and promote a sense of lifelong learning and adventure. Families interested in hosting this year must apply by Aug. 15.
“Every year Minnesota plays host to talented, top-of-their-class students with the lifelong dream of studying in America,” reports Dawn Green, iE-USA’s area director. “Minnesota’s spirit of hospitality and focus on academic enrichment makes it an ideal environment to develop cultural exchange and promote international diplomacy on a local level.”
iE-USA, the sponsoring program, is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting education and understanding through intercultural and academic exchange. iE-USA is certified by the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel and strictly adheres to all U.S. Department of State Student Exchange Program regulations and guidelines.
Exchange student participants undergo an extensive application and orientation process in their home country prior to being accepted into iE-USA’s program. Each student is responsible for his/her own spending money and full health-insurance coverage.
To learn more about how to make the dream come true for an international high school exchange student, contact St. Joseph representative Darlene Benjamin at d.benjamin@international-experience.net, 507-301-3613. Host families may review prospective student profiles online at iE-USA.org.
Sartell celebrates National Night Out
Neighborhoods throughout Sartell are being invited to join forces with thousands of communities from across the nation for the 31st annual National Night Out, a program where neighborhoods are invited to hold social gatherings within their community. From 7-10 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5, residents in neighborhoods throughout Sartell are asked to lock their doors, turn on their porch lights and spend the evening visiting with neighbors and police. Many neighborhoods throughout Sartell will be hosting a variety of special events such as block parties, cookouts, parades, flashlight walks and contests. Officers from our department and the Sartell Fire Department will make the attempt to stop at each social gathering. Please contact Officer Rob Lyon at 320-251-8186 if your are interested in hosting and/or organizing a block party for your neighborhood or apartment complex.
Stearns County lifts ‘No Wake’ restrictions
Stearns County Sheriff’s Office recently lifted the “No Wake” restrictions throughout the county. While still a bit high, lake levels have decreased to levels more consistent with pleasure boating. Sheriff Sanner urges boaters to boat safely and sensibly and to avoid creating a wake near shorelines. Marked “No Wake” zones will still be enforced.
Walkabout set July 12 in downtown St. Cloud
A walkabout, which creates a safe, fun, open space for people to get out, be active and learn more about the resources within the community, will be held from 1-4 p.m. Saturday, July 11 in downtown St. Cloud. Bicyclists, pedestrians, skaters and wheelchair users will have the opportunity to explore and enjoy St. Cloud’s Downtown neighborhood without the presence of motorized traffic. In addition to walking, biking and skating, there will be programmed activities along the streets, including yoga, dancing, music, classes, games, an animal-friendly bark park, a farmers market and healthy-living exhibitors. The event is free. For more information, phone 320-255-7245.
Brain Health as you Age set July 11 at Whitney
Learn how to keep your brain function at its peak as you age and how to ward off stroke — the fourth-leading cause of death nationwide during a discussion at 10 a.m. Friday, July 11 at Whitney Senior Center, 1527 Northway Drive, St Cloud. This will include an overview on brain games from your daily crosswords to the new Luminosity craze led by a staff person from the St. Cloud Hospital Center for Neurosciences. The event is free.
Minnesota author Boehlke speaks at Granite City Book Club
Minnesota author Carolyn Boehlke will join the Granite City Book Club to lead the discussion and answer questions about her book Chasing the Moon at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 16 at the Stearns History Museum.
Book synopsis: When her family is captured by the U.S. Border Patrol as they enter illegally into the country, Nadia Alvarez, a 15-year-old immigrant from Mexico, is suddenly alone. She faces the reality of allowing herself to be captured as well and be reunited with her family, or carrying out her parents’ dream of a better life in America. Living on the heavily patrolled border of Arizona and Mexico, Nadia lives the life of an anonymous migrant, scrambling to make money for a family she has lost. When her living and job conditions take a dark and twisted turn, Nadia flees Arizona for the promise of something better in the heart of the Midwest: Minneapolis. There, she struggles to find the American life her family wanted, an idea that comes to take on new meaning as she faces the reality of living illegally, constantly torn between new opportunities and a fierce loyalty to her homeland.
Admission to the Granite City Book Club is free for Stearns History Museum members, a nominal fee for non-members. Books are for sale in the Museum store at a 20-percent discount for members. Join us to meet the author, and enjoy a fun educational evening with others who share your passion for reading.
Founded in 1936, the Stearns History Museum has focused on preserving and interpreting the history of the region for 77 years. The mission of the museum is to engage people in the exploration of the county’s diverse heritage by providing connections to the past, perspectives on the present and inspiration for the future. The Stearns History Museum is nationally accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and is an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution. For more information, please visit www.stearns-museum.org.
Iranian film The Past show July 17 at Whitney
The Past, a 2013 foreign film from Iran, will be shown from 9:30-11:40 a.m. Thursday, July 17 at Whitney Senior Center, 1527 Northway Drive, St Cloud. Iranian Ahmad who returns to France after a four-year separation from his French wife Maria (Bejo), discovers that she now has a boyfriend, and that behind her difficult relationship with their daughter lies a secret from the past. The event is free.
Internet security; class set July 18
Security on the internet has never been more important and although perfect security is not possible, simple steps can greatly improve your online safety. Examine ways to protect your personal information on the internet with Charles Killmer of Netgain from 10-11 a.m. Friday, July 18 at Whitney Senior Center, 1527 Northway Drive, St Cloud. Event is free.