Firefighters holding pancake breakfasts

Firefighters in Hartley and Everly will hold their annual pancake fundraiser breakfasts soon. The Hartley Firemen’s Association’s event is slated for this Sunday, Nov. 1, while the Everly Firefighter’s Association will hold its breakfast on Sunday, Nov. 8.

See the ads on Page 8 and Page 5 for more details.

Local trick-or-treating hours

Trick-or-treating hours will be held on Saturday, Oct. 31 in three local communities: Hartley, 5-7 p.m .; Everly, 5-7 p.m .; and Royal, 5:30-7 p.m.

The Hartley Chamber of Commerce is also holding a trunk-or-treat event on Friday, Oct. 30. See the ad on Page 3 for more details.

Election Night soup and pie suppers

Churches in Everly and Hartley will hold soup and pie suppers on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hartley will be dishing out the goods from 4:30-7 p.m., while Hope Lutheran Church in Everly will be open from 5-7 p.m.

See the ads on Page 5 for complete details.

H-M-S menus

Monday, Nov. 2: Breakfast – Cereal, granola bites (9-12), fruit, juice; Lunch – Chicken nuggets, mashed potatoes, corn, garlic knot (9-12), oranges.

Tuesday, Nov. 3: Breakfast – Egg/cheese biscuit, fruit, juice; Lunch – Turkey/cheese bun, chips, baked beans, cucumbers, pineapple.

Wednesday, Nov. 4: Breakfast – Breakfast pizza, fruit, juice; Lunch – Mexican pizza, baby carrots/celery, bananas.

Thursday, Nov. 5: Breakfast – French toast, sausage (9-12), fruit, juice; Lunch – Spaghetti, breadstick, romaine salad, cherry tomatoes, pears.

Friday, Nov. 6: Breakfast – Omelet, toast, fruit, juice; Lunch – Grilled chicken patty/bun, French fries, green beans, sliced tomatoes (9-12), applesauce.

Milk served with each meal. Fruit/veggie bar served with lunch.

Virtual wellbeing workshop begins Nov. 3

“What About Me? My Wellbeing” is a four-week educational workshop series being offered virtually beginning Nov. 3 by the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach office of O’Brien County. Each workshop is 45 minutes and begins at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 10, 17 and 24.

The research-based program focuses on taking time for oneself, relationships, finances and physical health. Lori Hayungs and Carol Ehlers, Extension human sciences specialists, will co-facilitate the program which is for adults at any stage of life.

There is no fee to participate in the program, but registration is required to receive virtual access to the workshops. Sign up online at http://bit.ly/wellbeing16896 or contact Kate Stewart, O’Brien County Extension Human Sciences Program Coordinator, at (712) 957-5045 or kstewart@iastate.edu.

CC/E menus

Monday, Nov. 2: Breakfast – Cold cereal, fruit, juice; Lunch – Pizza, tossed salad, baby carrots, pears.

Tuesday, Nov. 3: Breakfast – French toast, fruit, juice; Lunch – Popcorn chicken, cauliflower, peaches, chocolate chip cookie.

Wednesday, Nov. 4: Breakfast – Banana muffin, fruit, juice; Lunch – Taco, corn, sidekick, churro.

Thursday, Nov. 5: Breakfast – Egg biscuit, fruit, juice; Lunch – Pork chopette, mashed potatoes, gravy, carrots, dinner roll, banana.

Friday, Nov. 6: Breakfast – Donut, fruit, juice; Lunch – Fish sandwich, baked beans, oranges.

Milk is served with each meal.

Blood drive Nov. 2 at Spencer

LifeServe Blood Center is asking community members to book an appointment to give blood on Monday, Nov. 2, from 12:30 p.m.-6 p.m. at Southpark Mall, 901 11th Street SW, Spencer.

Appointments are required. Donors should pre-screen themselves for fever prior to appointments and masks are to be to worn for the duration of the appointment. Donors who do not have masks will be provided with one.

Schedule a blood donation appointment online at lifeservebloodcenter.org or call (800) 287-4903.

Food pantry hours at Hope Lutheran

Current hours for the food pantry at Hope Lutheran Church in Everly are Mondays, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., and Wednesdays, 1-5 p.m. Please knock on the church door and food will be brought out to you.

Al Anon meetings in Spencer, Royal

Al Anon meetings are held at the following locations each week:

Tuesday, 7 p.m., and Wednesday, 8 p.m., 511 Southmoor, Spencer; Thursday, 8 p.m., Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Royal.

App period for heating assistance begins Nov. 1

Limited financial heating assistance is available to income-eligible utility customers in Iowa through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

The general application period runs from Nov. 1, 2020, through April 30, 2021. Early applications began Oct. 1 for households that have a resident who is 60 or older or disabled, or in cases where disconnection is imminent. The Iowa Utilities Board encourages anyone facing difficulty in paying their utility bill to contact their local community action agency or their local utility company.

The LIHEAP program is designed to help low-income homeowners and renters pay a portion of their primary home heating costs through a one-time payment made directly to the utility or heating fuel vendor. Eligibility for the federally funded program is based on household size and income, type of fuel and type of housing. Funding for LIHEAP and the Weatherization Assistance Program is limited.

Applicants qualified for LIHEAP or the Weatherization Assistance Program are protected by Iowa law from being disconnected from natural gas or electric service during the moratorium period of Nov. 1 through April 1. However, all LIHEAP-certified customers are urged to continue paying toward their energy bills through the winter to avoid accumulating high debt.

Interested applicants should apply at the community action agency serving their area. To find your local agency, call 211, visit the Iowa Department of Human Rights website or call IDHR at (800) 351-4659.

Seasons Center fundraiser to be held virtually

Seasons Center for Behavioral Health is hosting its annual dessert auction on Nov. 6, with all proceeds going towards Camp Autumn’s scholarship fund.

The annual event will look different this year as the agency moves to a virtual platform for the dessert auction in order to protect the health and safety of attendees. Attendees are encouraged to bid online, with winners receiving the desserts hand-delivered to their home. This event will be open to the public from noon-7 p.m.

“We are excited to utilize a new venue that will keep participants and the communities safe while still raising necessary funds for kids to attend Camp Autumn,” said Kim Scorza, CEO in a news release. “Last year we were able to raise over $24,000 in scholarship funds, providing 34 weeks of camp, and we hope to reach or even exceed that again this year.”

Individuals interested in attending the virtual dessert auction can find information on Seasons’ Facebook page or contact Taylor Prather at tprather@seasonscenter.org.