Pet Refuge event set March 25

The third annual Midwest Pet Refuge Spring Fling is set for Saturday, March 25, at the 4-H building at the Jay County Fairgrounds in Portland.

More than 30 booths will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., with vendors offering a variety of items. There’s no admission fee, and refreshments will be available for purchase.

At 4 p.m., there will be a “quarter auction” as a fund-raiser for the pet refuge.

Those who want to donate items for the event should contact Tara Drumm at (260) 725-3331 or via email at [email protected]



Coming soon

Just a reminder that the 2017 edition of Jay County’s Fiber Fest begins Thursday and runs through Saturday at the Jay Community Center.

That’s a new location for the event, which has been held at Jay County Fairgrounds in the past.

Thursday there will be classes from 5 to 8 p.m. on rug hooking, spinning textured yarn, harvesting fur from angora rabbits and making a needle felt alpaca hat.

Friday from 9 a.m. to noon there will be classes and demonstrations on making dorset buttons, basket weaving, warping a rigid heddle loom, and spinning for beginners.

From 1 to 4 p.m. that day demonstrations will focus on fine tuning a spinning wheel, working with leaves, weaving on triangle looms, and continental knitting.

At 6 p.m. expert Kate Larson will deliver a free lecture on breed specific yarn and cloth.

Events continue Saturday with demonstrations on chain-plying, making candle mats, primitive rug hooking, knitting, and rigid heddle loom weaving from 9 a.m. to noon.

From 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday there will be demonstrations on spinning luxury blends, weaving on triangle looms, and spinning for beginners.

Pre-registration is required.

For more information and to register, go to www.visitjaycounty.com or phone (260) 726-3366.



To speak

A woman who competed in three consecutive Iditarod races is set to speak at Jay County Public Library on April 1 as part of a month of planned Iditarod events.

Karen Land, an Indiana native, covered the sport as a writer, became a dog handler in 1999 and then a competitor in 2002.

Land will bring one of her dogs to the event to begin at 10 a.m. in the Community Room.

There will also be video streaming of this year’s Iditarod at the library beginning with the ceremony on Saturday.

Drop in to do an Iditarod themed craft from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday, March 27; Building Day and the showing of the movie “Balto” will be at 2:30 p.m. on March 28; “Snow Buddies” will be from at 1:30 p.m. on March 29 and Iditarod Crafts will be from 2 to 5 p.m.; Build Your Own Igloo will be held from 2 to 5:30 p.m. on March 30, followed by the showing of “Iron Will” at 6 p.m.; Game Day will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on March 31.



Nominations

Nominations for the 20th annual Jack Cole Award for Volunteerism are being accepted by The Portland Foundation.

The award was established by the Foundation’s board of trustees to honor Cole as its first executive director.

Nominations should be in the form of a letter of recommendation and include the nominee’s name, address and a brief background describing why the nominee is deserving of the award.

The winner will receive a plaque, and a small cash award to be given to the charity of their choice.

Nominations should be sent to 112 E. Main St. in Portland.

The deadline for nominations is Thursday, March 23. For more information, call (260) 726-4260.



Publishes book

Michael Baer, the South Adams teacher who has been in a leading role with Dots in Blue Water, has published a book about experiences that have shaped his life.

“Re-Defining Moments: A Collection of Events which Changed One Life” sells for $20, with most of the proceeds going to benefit Dots in Blue Water.

It’s now in its third printing.

The book is available at South Adams school offices or online at www.baer-lyvisible.com.