The Yellow Medicine East School District is developing a strategic plan for the district. The school board has chosen to work with the Minnesota School Boards Association (MSBA) to provide guidance and assist with the planning.
The Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging (MNRAAA) is seeking applicants for funding under Title III-E of the Older Americans Act. Funding is available to develop and/or expand caregiver support services in MNRAAA’s twenty-seven county service area for the period of June 1, 2022 – De-cember 31, 2022.
The Senior LinkAge Line is a resource that provides expert advice on Medicare, prescription drug expense assistance, forms assistance, community-based resources, finding resources in the community, caregiver planning and support and more. This presentation will help individuals learn about the Senior LinkAge Line and how it supports older adults and their families with decision making.
The Southwest Adult Basic Education Program will offer a FREE adult driver education class beginning Monday, March 14. This class will be held at the Minnesota West Community and Technical College located in Granite Falls, and will continue for 8 weeks concluding on Monday, May 2. Class hours will be from 5:00 to 7:00. Students will receive instruction on a variety of topics ranging from Diverging Diamond Interchanges and ABS brakes, to basic intersection technique. This class will also provide the necessary information to assist in successfully passing the state required knowledge test. Information will be presented in a variety of formats, including videos, on-line materials, worksheets, and interesting lectures. To register, contact the Adult Basic Education Office at 320-269-9297, or Paul Knapper at 320-522-2575.
My condolences to the families of Kathleen Jacobson & Lynell Leasman. Alex Grinager & friend Madison, Logan Grinager & friend Peyton & Molly Grinager along with Jake Albertson & Allen Jorgenson went to Dawson last Sunday afternoon to celebrate Molly’s nephew Colton Peterson’s 1st birthday.
Healthy Tip of the Week: When it comes to working out, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with all the different training philosophies, especially if you’re a beginner. Many experts tend to agree that compound exercises will get you quicker, longer-lasting results than almost anything else.
It’s the time of year when anglers and hunters need to buy new fishing and hunting licenses. Minnesota fishing, hunting and trapping licenses for 2021 expire Mon day, Feb. 28. Licenses for 2022 are now available wherever fishing and hunting licenses are sold, online (mndnr.gov/ BuyALicense) and by telephone at 888-665-4236. Mobile buyers receive a text or email that serves as proof of a valid fish or game license to state conservation officers.
March is Women’s History Month. Women have made a huge impact on policies and understanding of Domestic Abuse. One group we want to recognize would be the Women from the Duluth Model. The Duluth Model helped to change the way community members think of domestic violence. This model is an inter-agency approach that brings justice, human service, and community interventions together around the primary goal of protecting victims from ongoing abuse. The Duluth Model was started in 1980-1981. Eleven community agencies (police, prosecutors, probation, mental health agencies, as well as others) took part in this experiment. The goal of this experiment was to bring criminal, civil justice, and community agencies together to work in an interrelated way to respond to domestic abuse cases.
Recipe for a fresh start: Take a breath... a really deep one. Maybe a few. Maybe go for a walk. Definitely get outside. Talk to a tree. A duck. A rock. (Don’t be bothered when people describe you as “the girl that talks to rocks.”) Work from kindness. Always try to understand before forming an opinion. Look for a REALLY good squid joke. Fail. Settle for a poem by one of your favorite poets, who helped to teach you the power of words, the return on investment of integrity rather than personal gain, and that being “othered” can be a superpower. (Keep talking to rocks!)
The Alzheimer’s Association statistics about memory loss in Minnesota shed some light on its prevalence. They are from the 2021 report at alz.org/facts. The number of people aged 65+ with Alzheimer’s is projected to be 120,000 by 2025 which is an increase of 21.2% from 2020. Last year, there were 170,000 people providing 155,000,000 hours of unpaid care. Dementia caregivers today are providing 20% more care than in 2009. Whether it is you, a loved one, a customer or neighbor, memory loss is something that touches everyone in our communities, and I would like to share some of the resources available.