Fort Recovery charities raise $20k

Fort Recovery Combined Charities raised just over $20,500 last year.

The organization recently released its 2023 campaign results, which announced its total donations at $20,589. That’s an increase of $1,364 from 2022.

Leading in donations was Fort Recovery Morvilius Opera House with $2,746. Mercer County Right to Life received $2,575, the Center for Neurological Development gained $2,317, Fort Recovery Friends of the Library raised $2,210 and Fort Recovery Community Foundation had $2,187.

Other distributions were the Cancer Association of Mercer County at $1,955, Ever Heart Hospice at $1,663, Fort Recovery Historical Society at $1,100, Fort Recovery Academic Boosters at $705, Fort Recovery 4-H Club at $696, Fort Recovery Girl Scouts at $620.50, Fort Recovery Cub Scouts at $604.50, Project Recovery at $539, Our Home Family Resource Center at $370 and M.A.V. (Mercer, Auglaize and Van Wert counties) Youth Mentoring at $301.

Exhibit open

Ball State University’s David Owsley Museum of Art will have a selection of paintings and sculptures from the Haukohi family on display beginning Feb. 22.

The family’s collection is the largest of Florentine Baroque art of the late 16th to the early 18th centuries outside of Italy. It features paintings and sculptures depicting allegories, religious narratives, genre scenes, and portraits that display refined sentiments and skillful execution.

“This exhibition offers visitors a rare chance to view impressive works by artists previously only known to specialists, like paintings by Cesare Dandini, Felice Ficherelli, Onorio Marinari, and Ottavio Vannini,” said Robert La France, the museum’s director. “Visitors will be impressed by styles that emphasize rich colors and figures that fix their gazes on the viewer, inspiring introspective and emotional responses.”

The exhibit, which is free to view, will be on display through May 19 at the museum, 2021 W. Riverside Ave., inside Ball State’s Fine Arts building.

Neurodiversity

An opportunity to learn about neurodiversity in the workplace is scheduled this month.

Indiana Youth Institute will host Introduction to Neurodiversity in Youth Work at 11:30 a.m. Monday at Blackford Junior-Senior High School.

The event will feature High Five School founder Nathan Maynard. It is an interactive workshop “designed to equip youth workers, educators, and community leaders with the knowledge and skills needed to create inclusive environments that celebrate neurodivergent youth.” 

Attendees will learn about neurodiversity and its history and the complications regarding diagnosis.

The workshop is free and lunch will be provided. Those interested in attending should register in advance by visiting iyi.org/events.

Applications open

Indiana Department of Environmental Management is accepting nominations for the 2024 Governor’s Awards for Environmental Excellence.

Awards will be presented for energy efficiency/renewable resources, environmental education/outreach, five-year continuous improvement, greening the government, land use/conservation, pollution prevention and recycling/reuse. Awards will be based on project innovation, measurable results and transferability.

Nomination forms are available at idem.in.gov. The deadline to apply is March 1.