Special election set Nov. 3
A special election is being held on Tuesday, Nov. 3 for residents of St. Cloud Independent School District #742, which includes most recipients of the St. Joseph Newsleader. The school district decided to cut back on the number of polling places it would keep open in order to save costs as in many places it will be the only issue on the ballot. For those in St. Joseph city and township as well as St. Wendel Township who typically vote at their township hall, the community fire hall or Kennedy Community School, they will vote at the gym at Colts Academy, 124 SE First Ave. For those in Collegeville Township who normally vote at Sexton Commons at St. John’s University or at Collegeville Town Hall, they will vote at the Great Hall at SJU, 31802 CR 159, Collegeville. Polling locations will likely be more crowded than usual due to the reduction. You can find your polling place by going to pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us and entering your address.
Citywide food drive set Nov. 7 at food shelf
The fifth annual St. Joseph citywide food shelf drive is from 8 a.m.-noon Saturday, Nov. 7 at the food shelf, 25 First Ave. N., St. Joseph, across from the St. Joseph Meat Market. Donations can be made by cash, check or by non-perishable and non-expired food items, personal-care items, paper products and cleaning products. Coffee or juice and donuts will be available as a thank you.
Sauk Rapids and Rice snow-season parking begins
Sauk Rapids and Rice city residents are reminded snow-season parking starts Sunday, Nov. 1. No parking is allowed on any city street between 2-7 a.m., lasting until March 31.
Sartell snow-season parking begins
Sartell city residents are reminded snow-season parking starts Sunday, Nov. 1. No parking is allowed on any city street between 1-7 a.m, lasting until April 1.
St. Joseph snow-season parking begins
St. Joseph city residents are reminded snow-season parking starts Sunday, Nov. 1. No parking is allowed on any city street between 2-7 a.m., lasting until April 1.
St. Stephen snow-season parking begins
St. Stephen city residents are reminded snow-season parking starts Sunday, Nov. 1. No parking is allowed on any city street between 2-6 a.m, lasting until April 1.
We Need A Library! sets demonstration
Let your presence be known to our Sartell mayor and council members that a GRRL branch is a priority for our city. Young and old alike are invited to gather outside city hall from 5:30-6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9 prior to the city council meeting. Bring a sign if you can and consider staying for some or all of the meeting.
Daylight saving time ends
Daylight saving time, which started in March, ends Sunday, Nov. 1 at 2 a.m. Residents should turn clocks back one hour before retiring Saturday evening, Oct. 31, to reflect the ending of daylight saving time.
Cash for Candy set Nov. 1
Earn cash for your candy and support a vet.
Local groups are redefining the phrase “put your money where your mouth is.” This Halloween, trick-or-treaters can bring their excess candy from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1 to Pediatric Dentistry, 151 19th St. S., in Sartell and receive $1 per pound. Pediatrician David Smith, MD, Sartell Pediatrics, and Sarah Welch, DDS, Pediatric Dentistry, are helping lead the movement to reduce gingivitis and the health risks associated with sugar consumption by giving away dollars, toothbrushes and local favors, as well as large prize drawings in exchange for candy.
“Halloween is a kid favorite,” Dr. Smith said. “Children should enjoy dressing up, the costumes and trick-or-treating. However, the holiday can also serve as an opportunity to emphasize moderation and giving.”
His practice chose to start the Halloween Candy Buy Back in conjunction with BLEND and Pediatric Dentistry in 2012.
“Ditch the candy; that’s what we’re saying,” Dr. Welch said. “Visiting your dentist twice a year and brushing daily are great preventative measures, but doing away with excess sweets altogether would really give your teeth a healthy boost. Kids can still have all of the fun of trick-or-treating, and now their piggy banks will benefit as well. We chose to participate in the Halloween Candy Buy Back to help parents who want to limit the amount of damage that can be done to their children’s teeth. We want to encourage and teach preventative care.”
Global sugar consumption for kids increases by about 2 percent annually and currently sits at 50 million tons per year, which means parents need to be sure their kids teeth are being cared for more than ever. Candy, as well as hurting children’s teeth, can lead to hyperactivity and weight gain. In some cases, the wrong types of candy can also lead to broken and damaged braces.
Each year the event draws approximately 500 families and more than 1,000 pounds of candy. Historically, the candy has been sent overseas to deployed military. However, due to low deployment numbers this year, the candy will be distributed to local Veteran groups and hospice.
“The collaboration with BLEND, Pediatric Dentistry and local distribution outlets has truly made this an event we intend to continue year-after-year,” said Jill Smith, practice manager at Sartell Pediatrics. For the past several years, Stride Academy has collected candy at their school and awarded prizes to the classroom who contributed the most.
“We would love to see the event grow into a larger collaboration among local businesses and schools. The idea is to truly promote community-wide health,” Dr. Smith added.
Each child is eligible to receive $1 per pound up to five (5) pounds for all unopened, uneaten candy. To further encourage health, attendees are encouraged to park at NativeX, 1900 Medical Arts Ave. S., Sartell, and take an easy, family-friendly, .2 mile walk to Pediatric Dentistry. Enter through the front doors of Pediatric Dentistry, and activities will progress through the building toward Welch Dental. Immediate lot parking is also available. Large-prize-drawing registration forms can be printed in advance on the sponsors’ websites and Facebook pages.
Wishbone Family Walk set Nov. 26 at Whitney
The annual CentraCare Wishbone Family Walk/Run, sponsored by the St. Cloud Area Family YMCA and Bernick’s, will be held Thursday, Nov. 26 at Whitney Park, 1529 Northway Drive, St. Cloud.
The schedule of events includes the following: 7 a.m. YMCA opens; 8 a.m. National Anthem; 8:05 a.m. 1K starts; 8:45 a.m. 5K and 2-mile start; 7:30-9:30 a.m. kids’ activities and drop-off child care (if needed).
Register by Nov. 5 and receive a T-shirt for participating. Bring the whole family, we look forward to working up an appetite with you.
NAMI Minnesota holds state conference Nov. 7
National Alliance on Mental Illness-Minnesota will hold its annual state conference from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7 at the St. Paul RiverCentre, 175 W. Kellogg Blvd. The conference, Forging a Better Future, will feature Dr. Lisa Dixon, an internationally recognized health-services researcher and professor of psychiatry at Columbia University Medical Center. There will also be 15 workshops on current mental-health issues and a closing keynote by activist and comedian Kevin Breel, known widely for his virally viewed TED Talk, Confessions of a Depressed Comic. The conference will also include a youth track. NAMI provides education, support and advocacy for children and adults with mental illnesses and their families. For information or to register, call 651-645-2948 or go to namihelps.org.
Support Group set for eating disorders
The St. Cloud Hospital Behavioral Health Clinic is offering a Family and Friends Support Group for Eating Disorders from 5:15-6:15 p.m. the first Thursday of the month at CentraCare Health Plaza in the Stinson Leonard Street room. Upcoming meetings are Nov. 5 and Dec. 3.
Groups are led by a licensed psychologist or registered dietitian and provide support to friends and family through education and sharing with others who also have a loved one with an eating disorder. Each month a different topic will be explored. Attendees will take away tips for making mealtimes less stressful, how to respond to food and body image struggles, and what to say or not to say.
In the United States, nearly 30 million women and men of all ages, race and backgrounds suffer from a clinically significant eating disorder, such as anorexia or bulimia, at some point in their lives. An eating disorder affects the entire family.
This group is intended for family members and friends of a person with an eating disorder and is NOT appropriate for people who currently struggle with an eating disorder. There is no cost to attend. For details, call 320-229-4918 and ask for Bette Bakke, Lauren Forest or Barbara Carver.
United Way volunteer opportunities
Step up for our kids
We all win when young people succeed. That is why we invite you to LIVE UNITED. One-time, short-term and ongoing volunteer opportunities are available with children and youth throughout Central Minnesota. Examples include playing board games, helping with simple homework, sharing your skill or hobby, and reading with children. The opportunities are endless. Contact Mary Krippner at 320-223-7991 or visit United Way’s website: www.unitedwayhelps.org and click on “Step Up for Our Kids” button.
VA Escorts sought
St. Cloud VA needs volunteers to assist veterans who are confined to wheelchairs as they move across the campus to their appointments. Volunteers are also needed to assist veterans with navigating to and from their PT or OT appointments. Flexible shifts available from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday for either opportunity. Contact St. Cloud VA Health Care System at 320-255-6365 or vhastcvavsstaff@va.gov.
Volunteer for Project H.E.A.L.
Project Health, Education, Access, Link is an outreach program of CentraCare Family Health Center. Project H.E.A.L. offers free health screenings and basic care at various Central Minnesota locations for those who have little or no insurance. Volunteer needs include receptionists, nurses, physicians and patient advocates. Contact Paul Knutson, mission development specialist, at 320-240-3157 ext. 25155.
Catholic Charities Share the Spirit Program seeks donors
Catholic Charities Share the Spirit Program assists individuals, families or groups wanting to “adopt a family” for Christmas. Families are referred for Share the Spirit by various county, agency and school social workers and case workers based on need. Recipient families may be eligible for Share the Spirit for a maximum of three years. Donors are given basic family demographics (first name, age, sizes and more) and a list of a few needs and wants for each member of their adopted family. Lists are generally distributed in November. Donors then purchase and wrap gifts for their family. Gifts are to be dropped off at the St. Cloud Armory on Dec. 10. Due to the level of need experienced by Share the Spirit families, donors can plan on and are asked to spend at least $60 on gifts and $10 on a grocery gift certificate for each family member. Families of varying sizes are available and in need of adoption. Matching families begins in early November and this is done carefully so that complete and accurate information is provided. All information (including yours) is kept confidential. Contact Catholic Charities Share the Spirit at 320-650-1550 or visit www.ccstcloud.org.
For more information, contact Mary Krippner, United Way volunteer engagement coordinator at 320-223-7991 or mkrippner@unitedwayhelps.org.
