Meetings
Parkinsons Support Group (change of date) 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 Sportsman’s Club annual meeting is at 6 p.m. Saturday, April 8, at the SpringBrooke Events, Golf and Grill in Beaver Creek.
Beaver Creek Township Board will meet at 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 10, in the township hall.
Vienna Township Board will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 11, in the Kenneth Community Center.
American Legion Auxiliary Post #123 will meet at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 12, at Pizza Ranch. Call Dianna Tomlinson with questions.
Sanford Luverne Pink Ladies will meet at 1:30 p.m. Monday, April 17, at Sanford Luverne Medical Center. Note the change of date. Contact Sharon Zinnel, 507-227-3821, with questions.
Winter tree damage seminar April 12
“Animal & Winter Tree and Shrub Damage” seminar will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 12, at the Rock County Courthouse commissioners’ room.
Gary Wyatt, Extension agroforest educator, will lead the seminar that includes a field trip to the Project Food Forest at 308 N. Blue Mound Ave., Luverne.
Register by April 10 at the Rock County Extension Office, 507-283-1302.
Senior nutrition assistance 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 at the new A.C.E. office location on east side of Generations Event Center. Pre-registration is required for those 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.
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.
Spring Rally April 22
The Pipestone Zone Lutheran Women's Missionary League Spring Rally will be Saturday, April 22, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Pipestone.
Registration is at 9 a.m. with coffee and rolls. Guest Speaker id Rev. Dr. Armand J Boehme on the topic, “I Am Spiritual, But Not Religious. Millenials and the Church."
Gifts from the Heart are personal care items for the Pipestone County Hospice. Lunch will follow program. Call Linda Wenzel, 507-220-8194.
State park naturalist offers programs April 29
The Blue Mounds State Park naturalist will offer two programs on Saturday, April 29, at the picnic shelter.
“Predator vs Prey,” from 10 to 11 a.m. is designed for ages 6-12, but all ages are welcome. From the smallest insect to the largest fish in the river, every animal plays a role in the ecosystem.
“Beavers: Nature’s Engineers,” from 3 to 4 p.m. is about America’s largest rodent. Discover how these critters use unique adaptations to impact the landscape. The program will conclude with a short walk to the creek to look for beaver activity.
Contact park staff at bluemounds.statepark@state.mn.us or 507-283-6050 with questions.
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.
Community Ed
Community Education will offer the following classes in the next few weeks. Call 507-283-4724 to register.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Books on Tap takes place at 6:30 p.m. the first Monday of each month at Take 16 in Luverne.
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.
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.
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.
STEAM kits are also available checkout. Motion, lights, hydropower, robotics and magnets are among the kits.
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.
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