Did you hear?

Get your old photosFor a variety of reasons, people bring photos into the Star Herald office.Most of them are graduation pictures because a graduating senior made the news. Engagement photos, wedding photos and anniversary photos are also very common.For the most part, they are very nice photos, and I’m sure they have sentimental value to somebody, so stop down and pick them up.We even have a composite photo from the class of 1966. Anyone want it?To make our workspace more efficient we need to clean things up a little every now and then, and that time is now.If you have left a photo in recent years, or maybe not so recently, stop down and see if you’re in the file.Maybe you just want to check to see if any family or friends are in the mix.We would love to get them back to their owners or family.Good Sam receives Intergenerational grantThe Good Samaritan Communities of Luverne recently received a grant for $8,000 to fund a program that builds relationships between the elderly and the community through interactions and intentional intergenerational programming.The grant was one of 19 grants recently announced from the Southwest Minnesota Foundation.In total, $164,135 was granted over the months of November and December and recently announced.In addition, grants totaling $65,777 were awarded during the same period by community and component funds administered by SWMF.Community and component funds are organized and managed by local ?Unemployment benefits added to online servicesA new online, self-service option for Unemployment Insurance (UI) is available, according to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.Applicants can apply for UI benefits, or if they already have an account, they may reactivate, request payment or view and maintain their account using a personal identification number.Other new features include:
Benefits estimator to estimate the potential benefit amount.
Account maintenance capability that allows claimants to change their address, view payment status, request and manage direct deposit information or change tax withholding.
Reactivate an account, request payment, and answer employment separation questions.According to Matt Kramer, DEED commissioner, they plan to launch a new Unemployment Insurance Employer Account System this summer. The system will give employers the ability to manage their own accounts and to communicate electronically with the UI program.Thinking about planting new trees?The National Arbor Day Foundation is giving away 10 free white pine trees to each person who joins the Foundation during the month of March.The tree giveaway is part of the Foundation’s Trees for America Campaign.According to John Rosenow, Foundation president, the white pines are "a fast-growing landscape tree with soft needles and graceful branching. You can use them as specimen trees or as a privacy screen or windbreak. They even make a beautiful sheered hedge."Members also receive a subscription to Arbor Day, the Foundation’s bimonthly publication, and The Tree Book with information about tree planting and care.For more information, go to their web site at www.arborday.org.Publisher Roger Tollefson can be reached by e-mail at tolly@star-herald.com