Meet new VA admin in Hartley

Local veterans are encouraged to attend a free coffee meet-and-greet for new O’Brien County Veterans’ Affairs Administrator Katie Ginger on Monday, Jan. 24 at Grounded in Hartley.

See the ad on Page 3 for more details.

Pan-fried chicken at Red’s in Hartley

Red’s Catering in downtown Hartley will be serving a pan-fried chicken dinner on Wednesday, Jan. 26 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

See the ad on Page 3 for more details.

Eggs & Issues forums start Jan. 22

Local residents can listen to state lawmakers discuss issues affecting northwest Iowa during the first Eggs & Issues forum on Saturday, Jan. 22.

Other forums are planned on Feb. 19 and March 19. Eggs & Issues are held in the council chambers at Spencer City Hall. Doors will open to the public at 8:30 a.m., with the live session running from 9-10:30 a.m.

Iowa District 1 Sen. Dave Rowley, R-Spirit Lake; District 2 Rep. Megan Jones, R-Sioux Rapids; and District 1 Rep. John Wills, R-Spirit Lake have been invited to each forum, as well as other state elected officials. The event provides constituents a chance to hear from local legislators and address issues that impact northwest Iowa.

The session will be aired live on SMU and taped by Mediacom Cable TV, with both stations replaying the session.

There will be no food provided prior to the forum due to the COVID-19 pandemic; however, travel mugs with lids and bottled water will be allowed inside. The formats of the second and third sessions will be re-evaluated depending on where COVID-19 infection rates are for the area.

“Eggs & Issues” are a question/answer format session.

Grant writing workshop planned

Representatives of nonprofits, local government, schools and other organizations are encouraged to register for the O’Brien County Community Foundation grant writing workshop. It will be presented from 7-8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 16, at the Carnegie Event Center, 107 West 2nd Street in Sanborn.

The workshop is being hosted by the O’Brien County Community Foundation and will provide training in completing the OBCCF grant application. Pre-registration is required by Monday, Feb. 14. Class size is limited to 20 individuals. Register by emailing admin@siouxlandcommunityfoundation.org or calling (712) 293-3303.

Participants are encouraged to bring a laptop, iPad or tablet device to the workshop, if they have one available.

The grant writing workshop will be presented by OBCCF advisory board members and will provide tips and suggestions for writing the best grant application for the O’Brien County Community Foundation grant process.

For more information about the workshop contact Jennifer Cooke, of the Siouxland Community Foundation, at the email address or telephone number listed above.

H-M-S menus

Monday, Jan. 24: Breakfast – Cereal, pop tarts (9-12), fruit, juice; Lunch – Mandarin orange chicken/rice, broccoli, cauliflower, pineapple, bread (9-12).

Tuesday, Jan. 25: Breakfast – Mini cinnis, fruit, juice; Lunch – Chicken patty/bun, mashed potatoes, cooked carrots, mixed fruit.

Wednesday, Jan. 26: Breakfast – Breakfast pizza, fruit, juice; Lunch – Taco in bag, lettuce/cheese, diced tomatoes, refried beans, rice (9-12), corn, grapes.

Thursday, Jan. 27: Breakfast – Waffles, fruit, juice; Lunch – Italian pasta bake, garlic toast, green beans, baby carrots, applesauce.

Friday, Jan. 28: Breakfast – Donut, fruit, juice; Lunch – Hot dog/bun, French fries, baked beans, oranges.

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

CC/E menus

Monday, Jan. 24: Breakfast – Cereal, toast, fruit, yogurt, juice; Lunch – Chicken patty on bun, French fries, oranges.

Tuesday, Jan. 25: Breakfast – Egg biscuit, cereal, toast, fruit, juice, yogurt; Lunch – Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, dinner roll, peaches.

Wednesday, Jan. 26: Breakfast – Pancake, cereal, toast, fruit, juice, yogurt; Lunch – Sloppy joe on bun, baby carrots, pears.

Thursday, Jan. 27: Breakfast – French toast sticks, cereal, toast, fruit, juice, yogurt; Lunch – Cheese ravioli, tossed salad, breadstick, banana.

Friday, Jan. 28: Breakfast – Breakfast stick, cereal, toast, fruit, juice, yogurt; Lunch – Chicken taco, refried beans, rice, apple.

Milk is served with each meal. Menus are subject to change at any time.

Between the Covers to discuss “Wintering”

Between the Covers book club is discussing Katherine May’s “Wintering: the Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times” in January. The group will meet in the front room of Hartley Public Library at 5 p.m. on Tuesday Jan. 25, to discuss the first book of 2022.

“Wintering” by Katherine May is an intimate, revelatory book exploring the ways we can care for and repair ourselves when life knocks us down.

Sometimes you slip through the cracks; unforeseen circumstances like an abrupt illness, the death of a loved one, a break up or a job loss can derail a life. These periods of dislocation can be lonely and unexpected. For May, her husband fell ill, her son stopped attending school and her own medical issues led her to leave a demanding job. “Wintering” explores how she not only endured this painful time, but embraced the singular opportunities it offered.

A moving personal narrative shot through with lessons from literature, mythology and the natural world, May’s story offers instruction on the transformative power of rest and retreat. Illumination emerges from many sources: solstice celebrations and dormice hibernation, C.S. Lewis and Sylvia Plath, swimming in icy waters and sailing arctic seas.

Newcomers are welcome to join the 2022 Between the Covers Book Club so stop at the library to pick up your copy of “Wintering” to read today.

Lunch & Learn programs planned

Bring your lunch to the Clay County Heritage Center in Spencer at noon on the dates listed below to learn about different history topics and see unique objects in facility’s collection:

Jan. 26, Iowa statehood; Feb. 23, Boy Scouts of America; and March 30, Irish in Iowa.

RSVP is required as space is limited to 25 learners. Call (712) 262-3304 or email director@claycountyheritage.org.

Admission is free. Clay County Heritage is located at 7 Grand Ave. in Spencer.