Meetings
Pleasantview Cemetery Association will meet at 7 p.m. Monday, April 3, in the home of Brent and Jodi Taubert. Call 605-929-1593 with questions.
Springwater Township Board will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 4, at the township hall.
Parkinsons Support Group change of date – The group will now meet at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 6, at Poplar Creek in Luverne. All are welcome. Call 507-935-8173 with questions.
Beaver Creek Township Board will meet at 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 10, in the township hall.
Beekeeping workshops coming up
The Northwest Iowa Beekeepers Association will host workshops at the Central Lyon High School agricultural room in Rock Rapids.
•“Next Steps for Rethinking Beekeeping: New Ideas, New Techniques, New Equipment” is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 1.
•”Raising Queens” is at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, May 20.
To register for the April 1 workshop, send an email by March 30 to dmvanbroek@gmail.com. Contact Tim Olsen at 507-227-5919 wuth questions.
SAIL classes in Beaver Creek
SAIL classes meet in Beaver Creek Monday and Wednesday mornings now through May 24.
The classes, Stay Active and Independent for Life, improve strength and balance. They meet from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. in Beaver Creek City Hall in Beaver Creek. There is no cost to attend, but pre-registration is required by calling Linda Wenzel, 507-283-5064.
Students perform ‘Barnyard Moosical’ and ‘Yee-Haw’
Luverne Elementary School students will perform two musicals on Friday, March 31, in the school performing arts center.
First-graders will perform "A Barnyard Moosical" at 1:30 p.m. and second-graders will perform “Yee-Haw” at 2:15 p.m. Both programs will also be streamed online.
Tree trimming and pruning help
Project Food Forest is offering to help with any and all tree trimming for trees less than 10 years old. The local organization will provide one-on-one guidance in the process, specifically tailored to individual trees. To schedule a service, email mickey@projectfoodforest.org or call 605-215-1051.
The service is available through March 31, weather permitting.
Mammal Mania April 1 in park
The Blue Mounds State Park naturalist will offer Mammal Mania from 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 1, at the picnic shelter for a program about furry critters (other than bison) that live in the park. All ages are welcome.
Senior nutrition distribution April 6
A.C.E. of SW MN will offer Nutrition Assistance Program for Seniors 60 and older from 2 to 3 p.m. Thursday, April 6. It will be a drive-through distribution in the parking lot off Maple Street at the new A.C.E. office location on east side of Generations Event Center. Pre-registration is required for those who are not already registered. Call Linda Wenzel at 507-283-5064.
Mobile dental clinic in Luverne April 13
The mobile dental clinic will be in Luverne Thursday, April 13, at ATLAS of Rock County on Maple Street in Luverne. (Note the new location, and use the Community Room entrance.)
This clinic, organized by #Luv1LuvAll's Rock County Oral Health Task Force, provides dental care for adults and children ages 0 to over 100. Call 612-746-1530 to schedule an appointment. All forms of insurance are accepted.
Community Ed
Community Education will offer the following classes in the next few weeks. Call 507-283-4724 to register.
Taking Defensive Driving Classes allows adults 55 years of age and older to save on insurance. The Beginning 8-Hour Class is April 17 and 24 (four hours each evening). Refresher 4-Hour Class is April 3.
Is it time to sign-up for Medicare? Overwhelmed with your choices? New to Medicare class on Tuesday April 4 can help determine the best choices for your situation. Fee is $5.
Children ages 3-5 with a parent or caregiver are invited to On Track to Literacy Success on April 11. Registration required, but there is no fee.
Participants in grades 5 through adult can reserve time with an artist in Open Studio two-hour blocks of time on April 15. Fee is $25 and covers all materials, glaze and firing.
Taking Defensive Driving Classes allows adults 55 years of age and older to save on insurance premiums. After the beginning 8 hour class, every 3 years drivers are required to take a 4 hour refresher class to maintain the savings. The schedule for Luverne classes follows:
Registration is open for Discovery Time Preschool for ages 3-5 half-day classes during the 2023-24 school year. Age is determined as of September 1 of present school year. Free or reduced rates are available if income guidelines are met.
Blue Mounds Birding April 15
The Blue Mounds State Park naturalist will offer Blue Mounds Birding from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, April 15, at the picnic shelter for a program about migrant songbirds and how to identify birds in the wild.
After some background information we will set out on the trail for a short ½ mile hike to practice your new skills. *Come prepared with sun and insect protection as well as good walking shoes. Bring your binoculars if you have them. All ages welcome.
Blood drive April 18
The American Red Cross will accept blood donations from noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 18, at Living Rock Church on East Main Street in Luverne. To schedule an appointment call 1-800-733-2767 or visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter LuverneMN.
Registration opens for 4-H camps in June
Youth who have completed Grades 3-6 can attend one of two residential camps at Lake Shetek June 19-21 and June 21-23.
4-H staff and high school youth counselors lead activities, small group discussions and outdoor activities during the camps.
Registration is open until May 10. Contact the Rock County Extension Office, 507-283-1302, or mnnext-rock@umn.edu.
Free tax preparation at library
AARP volunteers will offer free tax preparation for low-income individuals and seniors at the Rock County Library on Mondays starting Feb. 13 through April 15.
Call 507-449-5040 for appointments. Bring documents, including last year’s tax return and a form of identification to document social security number. Tax returns for 2021 will be prepared if requested.
Library Happenings
For more information about library happenings, call 507-449-5040 or email rockcountystaff@gmail.com.
Ag Trivia at Take 16 takes place Thursday, April 6, in partnership with the Rock County Farm Bureau and Rock Nobles Cattlemen. Burgers will be served starting at 5:30 p.m. and trivia begins at 7 p.m.
Skally Line will perform old-time stringband music and share tales about Minnesota at 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 12.
Story Time with Bronwyn is at 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays and 10 a.m. Fridays now through April 28. Stories and make-and-take crafts are the same at either event.
Winter Book Club meets at different local restaurants during February and March.
The 50 State Challenge for adults and older teens is currently underway where patrons are encouraged to read a book set in one of each of the 50 states through Jan. 1, 2024.
The annual Plum Cleek Library System winter reading program, “Get Wrapped in Reading,” goes now until March 31.
Trivia Night is at 7 p.m. the first Thursday of every month at Take 16 in Luverne. Team registration begins at 6 p.m.
Reminiscence Kits are available featuring various topics such as gardening, pets, baking, sewing, farming and hunting. The kits are designed to use with a loved one experiencing memory loss, encouraging the loved one to open up about activities they once loved in the past.
Community Ed announcements
Community Education will offer the following classes in the next few weeks. Call 507-283-4724 to register.
ECFE Classes for children ages 0-5 years and parents offers information and support to parents and provides activities for parents and children to explore together through classes that meet once a week throughout the school year.
New Residents: Census Information Needed for Preschool Children. Call 507-283-4724 with information for children ages 0 to kindergarten. The school district uses the information for planning purposes, mailing out information on school events, including the state-mandated Preschool Screening for all 3-year-old children.
Food Shelf evening hours
The Rock County Food Shelf is now open for an additional evening shift from 5 to 6 p.m. the first and third Thursdays of the month. Call Mary at 507-227-5548 or Katie at 507-227-3531.
A.C.E. respite care available, volunteers needed
A.C.E. of SW Minnesota (A.C.E.) offers respite care services in Rock County for those needing a break from caring for a loved one.
The respite program offers short-term (1-3 hours), temporary care for families and caregivers by providing a brief period of reprieve from the daily cares they provide to their loved one.
Volunteers provide non-professional supportive services to caregivers to give them time for themselves, relieve their stress and help them remain healthy.
Respite care volunteers are also needed. Trained A.C.E. volunteers provide respite care to family caregivers of adults age 60 and older who are suffering from long-term health conditions.
Contact Linda Wenzel at 507-283-5064 or ace.rock@co.rock.mn.us.
You must log in to continue reading. Log in or subscribe today.