Dollars for Scholars applications now available
Applications for Dollars for Scholars are now available to pick up at the Newsleaders office located at 32 1st Ave. NW, north of the St. Joseph Meat Market, or Sentry Bank. The application deadline is Monday, April 8 and must be mailed to the P.O. Box on the front of the application or delivered to Doug Danielson at Sentry Bank.
Eggstravaganza at St. Joseph Winter Farmers Market
It’s an “Eggstravaganza” at the St. Joseph Winter Farmers’ Market from 3-6 p.m. Friday, March 22 in the fellowship hall of Resurrection Lutheran Church, 610 C.R. 2 N., St. Joseph. Activities will include free egg decorating for children, live music by Ordinary Folk, food samples and recipes, and the RLC youth group returns with their homemade soup. There will be goods available from area growers including eggs, artisan bread, meats, preserved goods, honey, sunflower oil and more.
Maple Syrup fests set March 16, April 6
Maple syrup season is a celebration that gives true meaning to the phrase “Home, sweet home.” If you’re looking for a family event to give you a sweet taste of home, join St. John’s Arboretum for the annual Maple Syrup Festivals from 1-4 p.m. Saturday, March 16 and April 6, at St. John’s Abbey and University. Registration will be near St. John’s Prep School. Advanced registration is the Friday before each date. Arboretum members receive discounted pricing for the event. Memberships are available online and will be available at the fests as well. Join us for what has become the arboretum’s most popular event of the year. Sap collecting, syrup cooking, horse-drawn rides, demonstrations and hot maple syrup sundaes await the whole family during this fun-filled event. Registration for families is preferred, but not required. Advanced registration for Scouts is required using the troop registration form.Call 320-363-3163 or visit www.csbsju.edu/arboretum.
Seminar March 18 tackles bankruptcy, credit issues
A community-education seminar on bankruptcy and credit issues, sponsored by the Volunteer Attorney Program for Central Minnesota Legal Services in St. Cloud, will be held from 10:30 a.m.-noon Thursday, March 18 at the Great River Regional Library, 1300 W. St. Germain St., St. Cloud.
The McKnight Foundation invites nominations for its 16th Distinguished Artist Award, in recognition of individual artists with enduring and exceptional careers. Nominations for the $50,000 award must be received by March 31.
The award honors one artist each year for having made a substantial impact on the arts in Minnesota over a lifetime. A panel representing a variety of artistic disciplines considers first and foremost the quality of nominated artists’ work. Other considerations include the artist’s commitment to his or her field, and ways the artist has enriched life for audiences and the community.
The panel formally recommends one candidate to McKnight’s board of directors. Artists in all disciplines are eligible for nomination but may not apply for the award themselves. Although nominees must have worked in Minnesota much of their lives, they need not reside in Minnesota when they are nominated. The panel will not consider those from Minnesota who achieved most of their success elsewhere. No posthumous awards will be made. The recipient will be announced mid-year.
If you know of an artist that meets these criteria, we invite you to send your nomination via email to Kristen Marx, arts program administrator, at kmarx@mcknight.org. All submitted nominations are retained. Candidates who have not received the award will be considered again among nominees in subsequent years. It’s not necessary to send another letter about someone who has been nominated, although career updates are encouraged.
For more information about the award, visit the Arts section of our website or call the Foundation at 612‑333‑4220.
More than 260 students from schools in Central Minnesota will present their exhibits, documentaries and performances at the regional History Day event from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 23 at Atwood Memorial Center at St. Cloud State University.Student exhibits and performances from 6- to 12-graders will explore the theme “Turning Points in History: People, Ideas, Events” as part of a statewide program co-sponsored by the Minnesota Historical Society and the University of Minnesota history department. The local History Day event is sponsored by the history department at SCSU.
The Minnesota Natural History Lecture Series will be held from 6:30-8 p.m. Monday, March 18 and April 15 at St. John’s Arboretum.
The “Science and Psychology of Survival,” presented by St. John’s Arboretum Director Tom Kroll will be held March 18. Our brains and bodies are wired to survive — whether you are lost in the mountains, lost in a foreign city or just feeling lost in a crowd. It’s not about how many matches, maps or knives you have, but how adaptable you are and how persistent you are about wanting to live. We’ll follow the ideas of Laurence Gonzales from his book Deep Survival.
United Way volunteer opportunitiesReaders, tutors, mentors
St. Cloud Area Schools are looking for volunteers to support students through reading and tutoring. Involved, caring volunteers have a positive impact in our schools and the lives of our children. We have a variety of opportunities, especially with the eight elementary schools. Even if reading with children is new to you, volunteer orientation and training is provided. Volunteers help to promote and strengthen the partnership between community, students and our schools. Contact Sonia Dickrell at 320-529-6500 or visit www.isd742.org.
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. BSA policy. Contact Jane Holmberg, Scoutreach Coordinator at 320-251-3930.
Stearns and Benton County Community Emergency Response Team
Stearns and Benton counties’ 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. 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 Tuesday evenings in April and May, ending May 21, 6-8:30 p.m. in St. Cloud. Contact Angie at 320-255-7265 or email Angie.Trulson@ci.stcloud.mn.us.
The Community Furniture Program needs your help
Community Furniture Program is in need of slightly used beds, dressers and table and chairs. Many people do not have the basic essential furnishings needed for day-to-day living. Forty percent of those people are children and you can help. The Community Furniture Program in St. Cloud is a non-profit organization that provides gently used furniture to those who are living without beds and other basic furnishings. Pick-up service is available and tax-deduction receipts given. No child should have to sleep on the floor, donate today. Contact the Community Furniture Program at 320-656-9004.
RSVP…your invitation to serve
RSVP is a volunteer program for men and women aged 55 and better offering a variety of one-time and ongoing volunteer opportunities within 220 local human service organizations. With RSVP, volunteers choose how and where they want to serve. They choose the amount of time they want to give. And they choose whether they want to draw on current skills or develop new ones. Volunteers can utilize optional mileage reimbursement through RSVP. Contact RSVP at 320-255-7295 or visit www.ci.stcloud.mn.us/RSVP.
Llama Llama Read-A-Rama 2013
Volunteer and read to children! Volunteers can read to children and assist with projects in preschools, Head Start Reach Up Inc., and Boys and Girls Clubs on April 11-12, 2013. All readers are encouraged to talk about their work/daily life as part of their volunteer experience so children hear about the importance of reading in everyday activity.
Click here to register today or contact Mary Krippner, United Way Volunteer Coordinator at (320) 223-7991.
For more information, contact Mary Krippner, United Way community volunteer coordinator, at 320-223-7991 or mkrippner@unitedwayhelps.org.
Red Cross blood donation opportunities
Upcoming blood donation opportunities: Noon-6 p.m. Mondy, March 18; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday, March 19; noon-6 p.m. Thursday, March 21; 8 am.-2 p.m. Friday, March 22; noon- 6 p.m. Monday, March 25, American Legion, 17 N. Second Ave., Waite Park and Blood Donation Center; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday, March 26; 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday, March 27, St. Cloud Tech College, 1540 Northway Drive; noon-6 p.m. Thursday, March 28; and 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, March 29.
All are held at the Blood Donation Center, 1301 W. St. Germain St., St. Cloud unless otherwise noted.
To make an appointment to donate blood or for more information about other ways to get involved with the Red Cross, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS.