Meetings
Beaver Creek Township Board will meet at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 14, in the Township Hall. The annual meeting will follow at 4 p.m.
Parkinsons Support Group will meet at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 16, in Poplar Creek, Luverne. All are welcome. Call 507-935-8173 with questions.
‘Crafty Canines’ at Blue Mounds March 11
Meet from 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 11, in the Picnic Shelter at the Blue Mounds State Park for a program on “Crafty Canines.”
Coyotes, foxes, and wolves are all members of the canine family, and the naturalist will share information about the tricks these clever critters use to survive and serve as a valuable link in the food chain. Program will conclude with some crafty projects to take home. All ages welcome. Call 507-283-6050 for details.
BQA training March 21
Minnesota Extension and Minnesota Beef Council will offer a free online Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) training from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 21, for producers to receive their three-year BQA certification. Register at z.umn.edu/BQAMarch21 to receive the Zoom link.
Call 320-533-4655 with questions. Anyone can complete the online BQA training at www.bqa.org at any time.
Help make Rock County ‘dementia friendly’
Dementia Friends Minnesota will offer a free event at 12:15 p.m. Wednesday, March 15, at Generations in Luverne to share information about dementia — how to recognize signs of dementia — in order to better interact with caregivers and people living with dementia.
To register, contact Linda Wenzel at 507-238-5064
Child’s Remembrance Garden Wine Tasting and Dinner March 25
A Wine Tasting and Dinner benefiting the Child’s Remembrance Garden will be at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, March 25, at Big Top Tents and Events, Luverne. A cash bar is available for those not drinking wine.
Purchase tickets by March 22 at Blue Mound Liquor or by calling 507-449-5052. See childsremembrancegarden.org or the group’s Facebook.
A photo table will honor children who have gone too soon. To share a photo contact Mary Thompson, 507-920-6226.
‘Amphibians and Reptiles’ at Blue Mounds March 25
Meet from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, March 25, in the Picnic Shelter at the Blue Mounds State Park for a program on “Amphibians and Reptiles.”
Learn which amphibians and reptiles you can find in the park and explore the life cycle of these animals to discover how they give clues about the health of an ecosystem. Call 507-283-6050 for details.
Mobile dental clinic in Luverne March 30
The mobile dental clinic will be in Luverne Thursday, March 30, in the Rock County Health and Human Services community room.
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.
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,
Community Ed
Community Education will offer the following classes in the next few weeks. Call 507-283-4724 to register.
Children ages 0-5 with parent can attend Open Gym on March 10. Registration required, but there is no fee.
Taking Defensive Driving Classes allows adults 55 years of age and older to save on insurance premiums. The Beginning 8-Hour Class is April 17 and 24 (four hours each evening). Refresher 4-Hour Classes are March 13 and April 3.
Project Food Forest can help you tap your maple tree and make maple syrup with Community Wide Maple Tapping starting in mid-March. Fee is $12.
Students in grades K-5 can learn to decorate spring -themed cookies like a professional at B's Bakehouse on April 3. Register by March 24. Fee is $30.
Students in grades K-12, it’s time to sign up for summer T-ball, baseball or softball. Register before March 27 for lower fees and an assured spot on a team.
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.
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.
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