Harvest Festival held Friday at Farmers’ Market
The 16th annual Harvest Festival will be held from 3-7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 18 under the water tower at the St. Joseph Farmers’ Market. There will be live music by Christopher Bell and Lewis Knudsen as well as The Song of My People, other entertainment, free children’s events including a petting zoo, a clown and pumpkin decorating. There will also be cooking demonstrations, apple pressing and pottery throwing. Additional food vending and samples provided by local vendors. For more information, check out stjosephfarmersmarket.com.
Search starts now for Miss Teen Stearns County
Single teens between 13- and 18-years old in Stearns County are eligible to become the 2016 Miss Teen, who will represent her county at the Miss Teen Minnesota pageant held March 12 at the Ritsche Auditorium on the St. Cloud State University campus.
Teens will compete in fitness-wear, fun fashion-wear and evening-gown competitions in addition to doing a personal interview.
The young lady chosen as Miss Teen Stearns County will become an ambassador from the Stearns County area, receiving both a title and sash.
She will also receive a prize package and college scholarship totaling $30,000 as well as the chance to represent Minnesota at the 2016 Miss Teen International pageant in Jacksonville, Fla.
The American Heart Associations “Go for Red for Women” is the official charity of the Miss Teen Minnesota Pageant.
The current reigning 2015 Miss Teen Minnesota is Nicole Doyle of Lakeville. As Miss Teen Minnesota, Doyle speaks out on juvenile arthritis education and awareness. Juvenile arthritis is an auto-immune disease that can rob children of a carefree, painless childhood. There is no known cause or cure, which is why research, education and awareness are vital in the battle against this disease. For more information visit www.kidsgetarthritistoo.org.
If you are a teen living in Stearns County and want to participate in the Miss Teen Minnesota pageant, write to P.O. Box 240537, Apple Valley, MN 55124-0537 or call 952-432-6758.
St. Cloud police, fire play football at Apollo Saturday
The St. Cloud Police and Fire Departments will hold their second annual free Police vs. Fire Family Fun Day starting at noon Saturday, Sept. 19 at Apollo High School. Watch a great game of football between some of the finest and bravest St. Cloud has to offer. Many activities will also be going on for the kids from perusing fire trucks to police cars to bounce houses and more. All proceeds support Tanner’s Team Foundation, which helps families with children who are fighting a life-threatening illness or serious injury.
Foley church holds fall fest Sept. 23
The First Presbyterian Church of Foley will hold its Fall Festival from 4:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23 at Henry’s Banquet Center in Foley. There will be a chicken-and-rib dinner, a bake sale, marketplace, recycled jewelry sale and a silent auction starting at 4 p.m. Proceeds will benefit kids going to summer camp and assist the mission group with projects like building ramps, house repair and other local mission projects. For more information contact the Presbyterian Church at 320-968-7928 or 320-828-1297.
SCSU offers PI sessions
“Private Investigation: Tips and Tricks,” a Lifelong Learning Community Session program through St. Cloud State University, will be offered from 3-4 p.m. Wednesdays now through Oct. 7 at the Whitney Senior Center, 1527 Northway Drive, St. Cloud. The sessions will offer insight on the tips and tricks of the private investigation field — focusing on surveillance, public database searches, spy gadgets, criminal-defense considerations and more. St. Cloud State faculty member Shawn E. Schooley will teach the sessions. Admission is free.
Book group to focus on Plato’s ‘Republic’
Learn more about the Greek philosopher Plato’s most influential work “Republic,” which explores the definition of justice, a just government and a just person during a community discussion group, taught by St. Cloud State University faculty member Shawn Schooley, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesdays now through Nov. 18 at Central Perk Coffee Shop, 906 W. St. Germain St., St. Cloud. Admission is free.
New fall programming offered at Lindbergh historic site
“Lindbergh and the World at War,” which explores the varied views of Charles Lindbergh leading up to World War II: from famed pilot and American hero to isolationist and suspected Nazi sympathizer, will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, Sept. 19 and 26 at the Charles A. Lindbergh Historic Site’s visitor center. Post-Labor Day, Charles Lindbergh’s boyhood home at Charles A. Lindbergh Historic Site in Little Falls is closed to the public for scheduled preservation work, including restoring windows, floors, paint and plaster work. The visitor center remains open. The site is open for special programs throughout the year and reopens for regular hours in May.
Heartland Hospice seeks volunteers
Heartland Hospice is looking for caring and dedicated people with an interest in serving terminally ill patients and their families in St. Joseph, Sartell, Sauk Rapids and the outlying communities. If you enjoy playing a musical instrument, sing or have a loveable dog you would like to register, please call Keshia Kettler-Herrmann at Heartland Hospice at 320-654-1136 for further information. Volunteer classes are available to fit each person’s schedule.
United Way Volunteer Opportunities
Help package supplies for Guatemala
Volunteers are needed to participate in the packing and staging containers of humanitarian aid destined for Guatemala. The packing is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19 at the Auto Value Warehouse, 125 29th Ave. S., St. Cloud, MN 56301. This is warehouse style work so volunteers are asked to wear work clothing and work shoes/boots. Volunteers must be in good physical condition and able to lift items. Pushing, pulling and moving of packed items is required. Each container takes approximately 2-1/2 hours to load. There is no bathroom facility on-site. The MESSAGE Program accepts monetary contributions to cover cargo collections, preparation and transportation expenses. We accept material donations of medical, dental, EMS, equipment and supplies, as well as general aid such as clothing, shoes, school supplies and hygiene items. Come see our work and meet our supporters. Contact the MESSAGE Program at 320-266-0066.
Become a volunteer advocate
The Central Minnesota Sexual Assault Center will host an upcoming volunteer advocate training held Monday evenings and two Saturdays starting Oct. 5. Volunteer advocates are required by the state of Minnesota to complete a required 40-hour training which qualifies volunteers to provide support counseling, crisis intervention and advocacy for survivors of sexual violence and their friends and family on CMSAC’s 24-hour phone line, at local law-enforcement centers and at area hospitals. Being a volunteer advocate provides valuable and rewarding experiences working directly with survivors of sexual violence and multi-disciplinary professionals. It also provides an opportunity for community members to get involved with a very important issue. Contact the Central Minnesota Sexual Assault Center at 320-251-4357 or visit www.cmsac.org.
Meditation in Motion – Tai Chi volunteer needed
Opportunity Matters in Sartell is looking for an individual to lead a short Tai Chi session for people with Multiple Sclerosis. Ideally the Tai Chi exercises would be done in chairs for ease of the MS participants. A group discussion will also be held during this session discussing the benefits of Tai Chi for those with MS. Dates needed are Tuesday, Oct. 13 or Tuesday, Dec. 8 anytime from 1-2:30 p.m. Contact Brenda Eggerth, volunteer and communications manager, at 320-240-1900.
Students apply now to volunteer during the school year
St. Cloud Hospital and CentraCare Health Plaza seeks students to volunteer in a guest service role and after successful completion of a health screening quickly transition into a patient service role. Volunteers assist with a variety of duties including but not limited to: caring walking escort of wheelchair transport for patients and guests throughout the facility, make beds, deliver patient belongings to patient rooms, organize, restock rooms between patients, and clerical tasks in Center of Surgical Care, deliver patient mail, Cheer Cards and floral arrangements and so much more. Shifts are 8 a.m. to noon, noon to 4 p.m. and 4-8 p.m. Monday-Friday. Weekend and evening shifts are also available in the Urgency Center at CentraCare Health Plaza. Contact CentraCare St. Cloud Hospital Volunteer Services at 320-255-5638 or [email protected].
Donate extra produce to the food shelfs
Donate your extra produce from your garden to your local food shelf. Favorites include carrots, zucchini, beans, beets, kohlrabi, corn, potatoes, tomatoes, cabbage, peppers, onions and asparagus. Any produce that has a longer shelf life is accepted. This is an easy way to help our food shelves during the fall. Catholic Charities Emergency Services at 320-229-4560; CROSS Center at 320-968-7012 or The Salvation Army at 320-252-4552.
For more information, contact Mary Krippner, United Way volunteer engagement coordinator, at 320-223-7991 or [email protected].