Community Briefs

Asbury United Methodist Church is taking applications for scholarships. These scholarships are available to members of Asbury, their children, or their grandchildren. If interested, go to www.asbury-wellman.com for an application. For more information contact Kym Kral at 319-646-2143 or e-mail at kral83@netins.net. The deadline for applications is April 1, 2010.

As the bustle of the holidays passes, Washington County reminds Iowans to make time for an H1N1 vaccination.
Though H1N1 has affected many people in Washington County, the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) says more than 90 percent of Iowans are still at risk for getting this disease. “It is likely more people will become sick with H1N1 after the holidays,” said Washington County Public Health Program Director, Chrystal Woller. “This is also the time seasonal flu starts picking up. People who have not yet gotten their H1N1 or seasonal influenza vaccines are potentially at risk for getting all four strains of influenza – three seasonal and 2009 H1N1.”
H1N1 vaccines are now available to all residents of Washington County. Because another wave of H1N1 is likely to occur in early 2010, it is important for parents to ensure their children are vaccinated as they head back to school after the holidays. It is equally important for adults to be vaccinated. Family members who get influenza often spread the virus to each other. The result can be several days or even weeks missed from work or school.
If you have questions about seasonal and H1N1 influenza, you can call Washington County Public Health at 653-7758.

Underground Railroad Exhibit displayed at Herbert Hoover National Historic Site
Before the Civil War, men, women, and children seeking to escape slavery in the South often sought refuge among Northern abolitionists in Cedar County, Iowa. “Cedar County, Iowa: A Door to Freedom”, an exhibit on the Underground Railroad, is on display at the Visitor Center of Herbert Hoover National Historic Site daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The exhibit was produced by a partnership of the National Park Service and the University of Iowa Museum Studies Program. 
Herbert Hoover National Historic Site and the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum are in West Branch, Iowa at exit 254 off I-80. Both are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time. Parking is limited so please allow extra time to find a parking space.

Story-time for toddlers and preschoolers are held each Wednesday from 10:30 - 11 a.m. in the children’s area of the Kalona Public Library. Story-time helps build early childhood literacy skills through listening, fingerplays, rhymes and songs.
The story time themes for October are Pumpkins, Monsters, Scarecrows and Trick-or-Treat. The October 28 story time will include a craft and will end at 11:15 a.m.
A list of themes through May is available on the library’s website or in bookmark form at the Kalona Library.
For additional information, contact Youth Services Librarian Marissa at 319-656-3501 or at kplyouth@kctc.net.

Washington County Public Health and Home Care in Washington is sponsoring a Caregiver Support Group that meets on the second Wednesday of each month in the Miller Chapel/Blue Room at Pleasantview Home, 811 3rd Street, Kalona, at 2:30 p.m. All family members and friends who are caring for loved ones are invited to attend these meetings free of charge. Hearing loss will be the subject of the presentation at the September 3 meeting. Questions regarding may be directed to Shirley Rath, RN, NSN, Home Care Director, or to Margaret Donnelly, Social Worker, at Washington County Public Health and Home Care at 319-653-7758 or 800-655-7758.

The winners of the Sunrise Child Care half a hog raffle are Kevin and Kym Kral and Al and Barb Benning.

Meetings for the nonprofit organization Angels Called to Action are the second Sunday of each month at 3 p.m. and the fourth Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in the meeting room at Reha Greenhouses in Wellman. Everyone is welcome to attend. Contact Donna at 319-646-2408.

A search is underway for a photo of the Fairview Church that stood west of Wellman. Anyone who has a photo should contact Maxine Stragner, 319-728-8671, who will make arrangements to copy it.

Gamblers Anonymous meetings are held Mondays at 6 p.m. in Room 135, Linn Hall, on the Kirkwood Community College Campus in Cedar Rapids. For information, call 888-771-6771.

The group meetings are held the first Monday of each month at the Presbyterian Church in Washington, Iowa at 6:30 p.m.  Everyone is welcome to attend.

The AL-ANON group meets every Thursday at 8 p.m. in the Wellman Municipal Council Chambers.

Meetings for AA (open) are held in the Wellman Municipal Building basement every Thursday at 8 p.m.