Events And Activities

Will Schmitt will perform a free "Spirit of Chautauqua" concert on Wednesday, June 29, at the Benton County Nature Center, 5718 20th Avenue Drive, just west of Rodgers Park northwest of Vinton. The public is invited; there will also be a potluck dinner at 6 p.m. The concert begins at 7. The “Spirit of Chautauqua” is a music tour coming to 45 Iowa counties this summer.

New to the 2016 Benton County 4-H Fair is a silent auction put on by the Benton County 4-H Foundation. Funds raised will be used for scholarships, 4H camps, trips, judging events etc. The silent auction will be held from Wednesday July 13th through Friday night July 15th, at White 4-H building on the fairgrounds. There are more than 14 items donated, mainly from the 4-H clubs, which include a movie basket, spice basket, quilt, ironwork, potting station, ISU stool, garden trellis and more! Come check out the silent auction at the Benton County fair! Everyone is welcome to stop by a put in your bid.

Are you an avid gardener, but would like to know more about gardening, plants and horticulture? Would you like to meet people who share your interest in gardening? If so, you may be interested in becoming a MASTER GARDENER. What is a MASTER GARDENER? Master Gardeners are individuals who have an interest in horticulture, have taken the Master Gardener training offered by the extension service and share their time and expertise with other gardeners.

Dysart residents invite everyone to join them for their July 4 celebration. The events actually begin with the community church service at the gazebo in the city park on Sunday, July 3. The Kiddie Parade also takes place on Sunday, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Security State Bank parking lot. Monday events include the 5K, parade, pork chop dinner, music, games and activities for adults and kids, and fireworks.

Party in the Park begins on Thursday, with free hot dogs at Farmers Bank starting at 5 p.m., followed by the traditional 6:30 p.m. Kiddie Parade to the courthouse lawn for games, music by Strait Run and a Farmers Market. See the complete schedule HERE.

The Center Point Friends of the Library first-ever Garden Walk was blessed with gorgeous weather and gorgeous gardens Saturday, June 18. The following generous hosts opened their gardens for the Library fund-raiser: Vern and Carma Almandinger (Center Point Garden Club members), Karen and Craig Bacheler at Interstate Grain Service, Dusty Sylver and Mike LeClaire, Teresa and Dan Scheeler, and Dennis and Linda Schlicht.

YIPPEE HIPPIE DAY is scheduled for Saturday July 9, from Noon - 6 p.m. at the Vinton Guild of Fine Arts Studio, in the Old West Elementary ( 811 D Ave ),  Room 28   Dress in Hippie attire & groove to far out music from that era while you release your creative inner spirit! There will also be Lava lamps, incense & black lights!   11 art projects to do including: Stained Glue Glass, Paint with Hippie Stencils, Zentangle your initials, Tie Dye, Decorate Shirt/Canvas Shoes with Permanent Fabric Markers ( you are responsible for bringing shirts/ shoes ) & receive a temporary tattoo!  30 spaces available.

With the blood supply at a critically low level, LifeServe Blood Center is urging eligible blood donors to schedule an appointment as soon as they’re able in order to ensure lifesaving blood is on the shelf. Local hospital patients need blood every day, not just following tragedies. Every two seconds, someone in the United States will require blood in order to survive.

The Thrivent Financial for Lutherans chapter of Tama County is among the latest who’ve donated to help to raise funds for benefit to help a Dysart grandmother live with a crippling disease. Friends of Melony Raub Leeper, of Dysart, have scheduled a June 25 benefit fund-raiser to help purchase an accessible van lift. Leeper, a 1978 graduate of Dysart-Geneseo High School, and Dysart resident, suffers from a neurological disease, SCA-3 (Spinocerebellar Ataxia) that has tragically taken the lives of generations of her family.

The 7th Annual Vinton-Shellsburg United  (VSU) Special Olympics Benefit Ride is set for Saturday, Aug. 20, in Vinton.  The ride will begin at Mickey's Bar in Vinton, were registration takes place from 10 to 11 a.m. The event will also end in Vinton, at the Vinton American Legiona Hall For more information, call Kris Kramer at 319-560-3920 or Mike Kramer at 319 560 9878.