Meetings
Vienna Township Board will NOT meet for the month of October. Next meeting will be in November.
Compassionate Friends grief support group, loss of a child/grandchild, will meet at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 20, at the Luverne Area Community Foundation, 102 E. Main Street, Luverne. Call Mary 507-290-1642 or Kristi 507-227-7821 with questions.
Parkinson’s Disease Support Group will meet at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21, at Poplar Creek Estates in Luverne. All are welcome. Call 507-935-8173 with questions.
Generations offers free meals
Generations will be giving out 30 free frozen meals to the first 30 people who come to Generations at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21.
UMC hosts free community meal
The United Methodist Church will host its free community meal at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 22, in the church fellowship hall in Luverne. All are welcome. A pick-up option is available. Call 507-283-4529.
Hills offers two ‘trick or treat’ options
Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Hills will host a Trunk or Treat event from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, in the church parking lot.
Trick or treating will also take place from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, inside the Tuff Memorial Nursing Home in Hills.
One Warm Coat distribution
The coat drive is available to anyone who needs a warm coat. What is available to pick from is entirely based on what has been donated, so style, variety and quantity will vary.
If you’d like to donate, you can drop off at the Luverne Elementary School commons in the box provided or at my house – my address is 512 W. Edgehill Street, or reach out to me to arrange pickup. Please only donate new or gently used clean items (no broken zippers or holes). The items should only be winter coats, hats, gloves, scarves, snow pants or snow boots. If you or your child would not wear the item outside in the winter, please don’t donate it. I don’t have the extra room to store it.
Distribution location is at Luverne Atlas from 4-6 p.m. on Oct. 30 and from 9 a.m.-Noon on Nov. 1.
SAIL classes offered in Magnolia
SAIL classes are being offered every Tuesday and Thursday from 9-10 a.m. from now until Dec. 18, at the Magnolia Post office, 113 Luverne Street, Magnolia. Class leaders are A.C.E. Volunteers Connie Frahm and Dennis Strassburg. Call Connie, 507-220-3584 or Linda Wenzel, 507-283-5064 for information or to register. There is no cost to attend; however, donations are accepted.
CoffeeBreak on Tuesdays
The CoffeeBreak Bible study group meets each Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. for Bible study on the book of Timothy and story hour for children three years old through kindergarten. Nursery is available for the littlest ones. There is no charge and no prior Bible knowledge is necessary. All faiths and all ages are welcome. Call Kristi Stroeh at 507-227-5102 or email at kristi.stroeh@hotmail.com
Mobile dental clinic Oct. 30
The mobile dental clinic will be in Luverne on Thursday, Oct. 30, at the Southwest Health and Human Services Community Room, 2 Roundwind Road. This clinic provides dental care for adults and children, ages 0-100+ and pregnant women. All forms of insurance are accepted and discounts for income eligible families is offered.
Community Ed Events offered
Babysitting Basics for students in grades 5-8 will be Oct. 21 from 3:15-5:15 p.m. Fee is $20.
Would you like some studio time to work with a clay project with assistance from an instructor? Participants in grade five through adult are welcome to reserve Open Studio for two-hour blocks of time on Nov. 8. Fee is $35 and covers all materials, glaze and firing.
Taking Defensive Driving classes allows adults 55 years of age and older to save on insurance premiums. As of July 1, 2024, you are able to take a four-hour class to receive the discount, and then repeat the class every three years to continue receiving the discount. The schedule for Luverne classes follows: upcoming classes – Oct. 13, Nov. 10 and Dec. 8.
Library happenings
For more information about library happenings, call 507-449-5040 or email rockcountystaff@gmail.com.
Fall Story Times are Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10:30 to 11 a.m. now through Nov. 20.
Empower Hour is 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Thursdays now through Nov. 20. Different STEAM activities and snacks will be offered every week. Open to all elementary students.
A Year with Jane Book Club will meet 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18, at the Hinkly House in Luverne. Participants will discuss “Sense & Sensibility” by Jane Austen.
Books on Tap book club meets at 6:30 p.m. the first Monday of the month.
Al-Anon meets on Wednesdays
An Al-Anon group will meet each Wednesday at 8 p.m. in the library at United Methodist Church in Luverne. Use the back northwest door for entrance.
SAIL classes are being offered
SAIL classes are being offered every Monday and Wednesday from 9-10 a.m., now until Nov. 26, at Poplar Creek Estates, 201 Oak Drive in Luverne. Class leaders are A.C.E. Volunteers Kris Waknitz and Diane Noyes.
SAIL classes are being offered every Monday and Thursday from 9:30-10:30 a.m., now until Nov. 28, at the American Reformed Church social hall, 304 N. Fairview Drive, Luverne. Class leaders are A.C.E. volunteers Francis Ladd, Gordon Mulder and Corey Ziegler.
SAIL classes are being offered every Monday and Wednesday from 9:30-10:30 a.m., now until Dec. 3, at the Hardwick Community Center. Class leaders are A.C.E. volunteers Marilyn Oye and Lorna Bryan.
There is no cost to attend these classes; however, donations will be accepted. For information or to register, contact Linda Wenzel, 507-283-5064.
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.
Food Shelf evening hours
The Rock County Food Shelf is 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.
Community Ed
Register for classes and activities by calling the Community Education office at 507-283-4724.
Blue Mounds State Park offers events
Programs will be canceled in the event of poor weather conditions. Call the park or check the online Events Calendar. If you need an accommodation, please contact park staff at bluemounds.statepark@state.mn.us or at 507-283-6051.
