Daylight saving time ends
Daylight saving time, which started in March, ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 6. Residents should turn clocks back one hour before retiring Saturday evening, Nov. 5, to reflect the ending of daylight saving time.
Metro Bus offers free rides Election Day, Veteran’s Day
Metro Bus will join transit systems throughout Minnesota to provide free rides to encourage voting on Tuesday, Nov. 8. And, for the first time ever, all veterans and active military may ride Fixed Route or Dial-a-Ride free in honor of their service on Veterans Day, Friday, Nov. 11.
See below for details about these free ride promotions.
Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 8
Fixed Route: All rides on Fixed Route will be free.
Dial-a-Ride: Anyone going to a polling place to vote can ride round trip for free.
Rider should notify Metro Bus they are going to vote when scheduling ride.
Veteran’s Day: Friday, Nov. 11
Fixed Route: Rider must show military ID upon boarding.
Dial-a-Ride: Rider should notify Metro Bus of veteran or active military status
when scheduling ride.
Catholic Charities looking for groups to adopt families for Christmas
It’s an American tradition to serve the poor during the holiday season, but one area program is serving not just the poor, but those in our community in the greatest need. Catholic Charities Share-the-Spirit program matches families who are experiencing hardship with groups of people who want to adopt such a family for Christmas. The organization is accepting donors to adopt families now on their website, www.ccstcloud.org. All families to be adopted are nominated by area social workers from area human service organizations. “We ask people who are adopting families plan to spend about $70 per family member,” said Mishon Bulson, program coordinator for Catholic Charities Share-the-Spirit Program. “Families of all sizes are available to adopt.” Confidentiality for both donor and recipient families is respected. Those who would like to volunteer to adopt a family can visit www.ccstcloud.org for details and to fill out an online donor form.
Sauk Rapids, Rice snow-season parking begins
Sauk Rapids and Rice city residents are reminded snow-season parking started Nov. 1. No parking is allowed on any city street between 2-7 a.m., lasting through March 31.
Sartell snow-season parking begins
Sartell city residents are reminded snow-season parking started Nov. 1. No parking is allowed on any city street between 1-7 a.m, lasting through March 31.
St. Stephen snow-season parking begins
St. Stephen city residents are reminded snow-season parking started Nov. 1. No parking is allowed on any city street between 2-6 a.m., lasting through March 31.
St. Joseph snow-season parking begins
St. Joseph city residents are reminded snow-season parking started Nov. 1. No parking is allowed on any city street between 2-7 a.m., lasting through March 31.
Red Cross in need of donors this holiday season
The American Red Cross encourages eligible donors to give blood to help stock the shelves before the busy holiday season. Many regular donors delay giving between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day because of holiday activities. This often causes a drop in donated blood available for patients. Therefore, more donations are needed in the weeks leading up to the holidays to help ensure the blood supply is sufficient throughout the winter months. For blood donor Katie Osorio, giving a little bit of time is worth it because she’s giving someone a chance at life. “Someone’s mother, brother, sister, father or the love of someone’s life has been given back to their loved ones all because I gave something I could. It takes so little from me and gives a world back to another.” To make an appointment to give blood, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Donors are encouraged to make appointments and complete the RapidPass online health-history questionnaire at redcrossblood.org/rapidpass to save time when donating.
Resource Training & Solutions to offer parenting classes
dults who want to fine-tune their parenting skills will have an opportunity for an in-depth training in the class “Parenting the Love and Logic Way.” Resource Training and Solutions in Sartell is offering a two-evening class from 5:30-9 p.m. Mondays, Nov. 7 and 14 to help parents and other adults who interact with children to learn more about raising the odds for teaching their children respect and responsibility. Modeling for your children by learning how to avoid power struggles and delaying consequences are powerful and respectful tools to use. Guiding your children to solve their own problems is critical both now and for their future. Take home these ideas to practice and refine for you and your family. Learn from both Peg Imholte, certified facilitator for “Parenting the Love and Logic Way” and Anthony Farag, an independent facilitator. Mother of five children, ranging in ages from 25-37, and grandmother of three, Imholte has had many opportunities to practice these techniques. She has taught essential behavior-management techniques to hundreds of parents, school staff and others interacting with youth. Farag has been married for more than 33 years and he and his wife Susan have three children. He has experienced many facets of Love and Logic – from being a juvenile probation officer to a stay-at-home dad. Registration for the training can be made by contacting Amy Weaver at Resource Training and Solutions, 137 23rd St. S., Sartell. Call 320-255-3236 or toll-free at 844-335-3276, and visit resourcetraining.com for more information.
Wreaths for Fallen needs donations this season
With almost 500 additional interments at the Minnesota State Veterans’ Cemetery in the last year the challenge for WreathsForTheFallen.org to honor all our country’s fallen veterans is greater than ever. For a number of years WreathsForTheFallen.org has endeavored to honor all our country’s fallen veterans at the cemetery by placing a wreath on each veteran’s grave in December. “We are in hopes this year we will again be able to honor all our country’s fallen veterans at the Minnesota State Veterans’ Cemetery in Little Falls Minnesota” said John Thomas, president of WreathsForTheFallen.org. “Now would be an excellent time to send that contribution or sponsorship to honor a veteran” Thomas said. “For those who would like to make a general donation to this worthy cause, please feel free to contribute to the wreath general fund for the 2016 event. Information is on the www.WreathsForTheFallen.org web site. Everyone is invited to join and assist us with this most worthy program” Thomas said.
Resource Training & Solutions to host program for substitute teachers
People who want to teach but don’t have the full credentials will have an opportunity to become certified as short-call substitute teachers under the Minnesota Limited, Short-Call Substitute program. A four-year bachelor’s degree is required to qualify. Resource Training and Solutions in St. Cloud has announced it has coordinated a two-day program on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 17 and 18 to prepare individuals to apply to become limited, short-call substitute teachers. Under Minnesota law, limited, short-call substitute teachers’ licenses are granted only if teachers who hold regular teaching licenses are not available or if a district is experiencing a hardship in securing a sufficient number of regularly licensed teachers to meet the district’s need for limited, short-call substitute teachers. The district superintendent may request a limited, short-call substitute license be granted to an individual who holds a baccalaureate degree from a college or university that is accredited by the regional association for the accreditation of colleges and secondary schools. Licensure is good for two years and must be renewed bi-annually. Training will cover topics such as the substitute teacher’s role in the classroom and district, basics of classroom management and instruction, basics of child development and communication skills. Registration for the training can be made by contacting Deb Thomes at Resource Training and Solutions, 137 23rd St. S., Sartell, MN, phone 320-255-3236 or toll-free 844-335-3276, website www.resourcetraining.com.
Metro Bus tweaks routes, effective Oct. 30
A few Metro Bus routes have changed as of Oct. 30 to improve on-time performance and access to St. Cloud State University and Cash Wise in Waite Park. The changes are in response to customer feedback and a performance review of the new routes that started in August. Route 5 will now serve SCSU across the street from the Miller Center at Seventh Street S./Fifth Avenue S. Using the stop on Seventh Street S. instead of pulling into the bus stop at the Miller Center will help the route stay on time while preserving the easy access between the two locations. Riders are encouraged to use Routes 8, 11 and 12 for direct access to Miller Center from downtown. Route 5 will improve access to Cash Wise in Waite Park by using Waite Avenue and Second Street S. after departing Crossroads Center. This change was made as a direct response to customer feedback. Route 11 will give students living on Washington Memorial Drive the ability to get to SCSU at more convenient times. On its way back to SCSU and the Transit Center, Route 11 will stay on Roosevelt Road and turn left on Washington Memorial Drive serving the bus stop at Garden Square Apartments before resuming the route. A portion of Route 12 will have more frequent morning service to SCSU. This additional service starts at the Clearwater Road/14th Street S. bus stop and ends at the SCSU Miller Center. This extra weekday-morning service will only operate when SCSU classes are in session during fall and spring semesters. This select area will have two additional runs between 9:11 and 10:50 a.m., providing service twice an hour during those times.
