Sartell Lions offer spring cleanup May 3
Final winter market to be held May 3
City of Sartell Planning and Community Development staff will be available to engage in conversation about a variety of topics, including the proposed half-cent sales-tax extension and the recently awarded Safe Route to School grant during the final winter market Saturday, May 3. A bike rodeo, hosted by the Sartell Police and sponsored by BLEND, will be held from 10 a.m. to noon in the City Hall parking lot. Any child who bikes to city hall or shows up with their bike and cycles through the course will get a token to spend at the farmers’ market along with other great prizes. Winter market hours are 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Market Monday will open for the season from 3-6:30 p.m. Monday, May 12.
The bike rodeo will also feature: pedestrian maps and comprehensive Sartell Safe Routes to School information; bike checks and tune ups by Revolution Cycle and Ski; helmet fittings and helmets available from CentraCare Health; pedestrian safety trivia wheel and blinky lights; bike obstacle course; Sartell Police Department; Sartell’s best local food, farmers’ markets and organic produce; Apple duathlon race director clinic on how kids should properly transition in a duathlon; and BLEND Fit Kids Club and Pledge Registration.
Centennial committee to meet May 4 for St. Stephen
A St. Stephen centennial planning meeting will be held at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, May 4 at St. Stephen City Hall.
Bike Rodeo set for May 3
The annual children’s Bike Rodeo will take place from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, May 3 in the parking lot right outside of Sartell City Hall.
Children should bring along their bicycles, their helmets and any other safety gear. The Sartell Police Department bike-safety experts will be there to guide the children through a safety obstacle course and to demonstrate all kinds of safety tips. There will also be drawings and prizes.
At the same time, the Farmers’ Market will be underway inside city hall.
United Way Volunteer Opportunities
Pack the Mac ~ Package Food for Local Food Pantries
Volunteer to help Kids Fighting Hunger package Macaroni and Cheese meals to be distributed to local Central Minnesota food pantries. The goal is to package 150,000 nutritious vitamin fortified macaroni and cheese meals. Pack the Mac runs from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, May 17 at the St. Cloud River’s Edge Convention Center. Volunteers are asked to sign up for a two-hour shift and bring a suggested donation to help cover the cost of the food package. Volunteers can sign-up for “Pack the Mac” by registering at www.unitedwayhelps.org or by calling 320-252-0227. Donations can be sent to Kids Fighting Hunger/Pack the Mac, P.O. Box 7550, St. Cloud, MN 56302.
Handy-person sought
New Beginnings is in need of a second volunteer handy-person. This volunteer position would involve doing minor repairs to our home as needed with another volunteer, such as changing light bulbs, checking smoke detectors, light painting and varnishing, shoveling, running errands when requested and more. This volunteer position is on-going and flexible with hours. This volunteer could come in every day (Monday-Friday), a couple of days a week or once a week. This position may require light lifting. Contact Jayme at jrevermann@newbeginningsmn.org or 320-255-1252.
Summer student volunteers soughtSt. Cloud Hospital Summer Student Volunteer Program needs your help. This is a great opportunity for students to gain work experience, explore career opportunities and make lasting friendships. Volunteer four hours each day Monday-Friday for a total of 80+ hours. Volunteer shifts are 8 a.m.-noon, noon-4 p.m., with limited 4-8 p.m. shifts. Learning tracks include: administrative assistance, patient experience and retail. Volunteer. Students must be self-motivated, work independently, care about others and have a desire to learn. Contact CentraCare Volunteer Services at 320-255-5638 or visit centracare.com/volunteer.
Donate toys for summer
Help children have a fun summer! Donate new or gently used summer toys to promote physical activity and outdoor play. Suggested items include: baseball/softball gloves, bats, cleats, soccer equipment, sidewalk chalk, bubbles, jump ropes and more. Contact Catholic Charities Emergency Services at 320-229-4560.
Habitat for Humanity seeks ReStore volunteer
ReStore volunteer – Do you have an interest in retail and working with home-improvement products? ReStore is a discount home-improvement retail store. All the proceeds of the store go to Habitat for Humanity to build homes locally for low-income families. Volunteers can come for a one-time experience or on a regular basis. One-time volunteers help with general store tasks such as loading/unloading items, cleaning and stocking the floor. Volunteers who commit to coming for one shift per week have the option of being trained in any of these roles: cashier and customer-service specialist, donations hotline and customer support, donations and receiving volunteer, sales floor and retail team, truck support team and lighting/fan repair volunteer. Shifts are available Mondays-Tuesdays from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. (or split shift available) or Wednesdays-Saturdays from 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. and 2–6:30 p.m. Contact Angie Thaxton, Habitat for Humanity ReStore, at 320-248-7812.
For more information, contact Mary Krippner, United Way Community Volunteer Coordinator at 320-223-7991 or mkrippner@unitedwayhelps.org.
Hot off the press
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Rain could lead to unexpected flooding
Much of Central Minnesota, including Stearns County, has seen rainfall and high winds which started last Sunday and continued through this past Wednesday. Water levels are rising. This rainfall may begin to cause isolated local flooding issues in low-lying areas, on certain roadways, as well as in lakes and rivers throughout the county. The National Weather Service indicates both the Sauk and Mississippi rivers rising to the “action stage” which is the water level immediately preceding flood stage. The county’s emergency management department also received a few reports of trees that have fallen due to high winds and saturated ground. Residents are reminded to be aware of their surroundings and remember it is never safe to walk or drive through flood waters. Additional information about flooding can be found on the Stearns County website at www.co.stearns.mn.us.
MS Walk 2014 seeks volunteers
Volunteers are needed to assist at the annual MS Walk to be held on Sunday, May 4 at Apollo High School. Volunteers are needed for volunteer sign-in, walker registration, assist in running games for participants, and clean-up between the hours of 6:30 a.m.-noon. Contact Brenda Eggerth at Opportunity Matters at 320-240-1900 x 205.
May is Mental Health Month; support is available
During May is Mental Health Month, the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Minnesota and dozens of other organizations are involved in community education about mental illnesses, including creating awareness that effective treatments are available and that people can and do recover. NAMI Minnesota offers more than 300 free educational classes statewide each year, along with help in navigating the mental health system. NAMI also has more than 60 free support groups living with a mental illness and their families. To reach NAMI Minnesota, call 651-645-2948 or 1-888-NAMI-Helps, or go to www.namihelps.org.
Seminar set May 5 for mental health education
United Way of Central Minnesota, Sauk Rapids Rice Schools and Child Care Choices along with other community partners will present a free learning opportunity titled Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health: It’ll Grow on You from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, May 5 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 4310 CR 137, St. Cloud. Attendees can choose one two-hour session. Free childcare and evening meal will be provided for attendees with advanced registration.
The presenter will be Mary J. Linn, M.S., licensed psychologist, who works at the Central Minnesota Mental Health Center and a small private practice, both in St. Cloud. She has more than 25 years of experience and training in evidence-informed interventions providing therapy services to children with mental-health issues and their families. Mary works primarily with the birth to five early childhood mental health and school linked mental health programs as well as providing reflective practice consultation.
The presentation is geared to parents of young children (ages birth to 5), child-care providers, early childhood educators, human-service providers, students, foster parents, adoptive parents, grandparents, expectant parents and other caring family members.
The sessions will explore the connections between genetic makeup, experience and stressors on the developing brain of a young child. It will also talk about how you can help to buffer stressors, co-regulate emotions and behaviors, and build relationships with young child(ren) in order to help them understand and thrive in their world.
Those who would like to attend are asked to register in advance by calling United Way of Central Minnesota at 320-229-3515. Visit www.unitedwayhelps.org for a registration form.
For more information, contact Alexis Lutgen at United Way of Central Minnesota, at 320-229-3515.
Use of golf carts on county roads subject of May 6 meeting
Stearns County’s Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing at 9:45 a.m. Tuesday, May 6 in the County Board Room, Stearns County Administration Center, 705 Courthouse Square, downtown St Cloud, to consider enacting an ordinance allowing the use of golf carts along county roadways. The golf cart ordinance will provide authority over the use of motorized golf carts on county roads within certain cities. The proposed ordinance sets forth, among other things, conditions for use, permit requirements, rights and duties of the operator and penalties for violations. Copies of the proposed ordinance are available upon request by calling the Stearns County Highway Department at 320-255-6180. All interested persons are invited to attend or submit written testimony prior to the hearing date. Written testimony should be submitted to the Stearns County Highway Department at 455 28th Ave. S., Waite Park, MN 56387.
Ethical will workshop set May 4
A public workshop entitled “Writing An Ethical Will” will be offered at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, May 4 at the St. Cloud Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 3226 Main Prairie Road, St. Cloud. While a legal will passes on our valuables, the Rev. Michelle Tonozzi said, the Fellowship’s consulting minister, an ethical will passes on the values we would wish to leave to our loved ones. During the workshop, Tonozzi will discuss the benefits that can be gained from writing an ethical will, and she will present various approaches to the writing of such a will. More information is available at the Fellowship’s website, www.uufstcloud.org.
Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid to provide legal services for seniors in Stearns County
The St. Cloud office of Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid recently received a grant of Older Americans Act funds from the Central Minnesota Council on Aging to provide legal services for seniors residing in Stearns County. The funds will be used to provide legal advice, counseling and representation in court and administrative hearings. There is no cost for these services.
If you are 60 years or older and reside in Stearns County, you can get help with legal problems involving Medicare; Social Security; eviction or other housing problems; public benefits, such as medical assistance, food support and fuel assistance; family law issues, including domestic abuse and income maintenance; nursing home problems; home-care services; powers of attorney; health care directives; and debt collection. No help is provided for criminal matters, wills, estate planning, or real-estate transactions.
Appointments are held in St. Cloud at the Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid office and at the Whitney Senior Center, or in Sauk Centre at the St. Michael’s Nursing Home. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 1-888-360-2889 or 320-253-0121.
Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid accepts contributions for the legal services, but contributions are not required to receive legal help.