Workshops available

Artistic opportunities are available this month.

Minnetrista Museum & Gardens will host painting and fused glass workshops in the coming weeks.

Bob Ross painting workshops are scheduled for 6 to 9 p.m. Jan. 15 and 31 and 1 to 4 p.m. Jan. 16. Participants will learn one of Ross’s signature techniques.

A Bob Ross kids painting workshop for those ages 8 to 13 is set for 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23.

A fused glass workshop is set for 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25.

Minnetrista is located at 1200 N. Minnetrista Parkway, Muncie.

For more information, visit minnetrista.net.

Understanding grief

There’s a support group in Jay County created for individuals who have lost a loved one to suicide.

Understanding Your Suicide Grief meets from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on the third Monday of each month and from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month.

 To register, contact Stephanie Patterson at (260) 251-3259.

Library challenge

Jay County Public Library’s adult and teen winter reading challenge started this week.

Challenge cards will be available at the library through March 1. Adults and teens must complete at least four spaces on their cards before turning  them in for  prize drawings,  which include gift cards to  Pizza Hut, Walmart or  Bizy Dips. 

All cards will also be entered into a grand prize drawing for a Kindle Paperwhite. 

Also, an after-school activity for children to knit scarves, is slated from 4 to 5 p.m. or 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

Dean’s list

A Fort Recovery resident recently made the dean’s list at Miami University.

Megan Knapke earned a spot on the list at the university in Oxford, Ohio. Students who were ranked in the top 20% of undergraduate students for the fall semester were named with the honor recognizing academic excellence.

Added to archive

Indiana Arts Commission has partnered with the Indiana State Library to add 28 poets to the State of Indiana’s poetry archive — INverse.

“Celebrating and preserving the work of Indiana poets is a very worthy project and the Indiana State Library is honored to participate in this collaboration,” said Jake Speer, state librarian, in a press release. 

"The Indiana Arts Commission appreciates the partnership with the Indiana State Library, which allows us to preserve and showcase the work of Hoosier poets," said Miah Michaelsen, IAC executive director. "The poets highlighted in the INverse Poetry Archive demonstrate the creative talent at work in Indiana."

The archive is available at bit.ly/INverse.

Wellness initiative

There’s a new educational program available for seniors in the community.

Wellness Initiative for Senior Education (WISE) is a six-week program for those 55 years old and older to learn more about themselves and make friends. 

Participants will learn about the aging process and how to make healthy lifestyle choices, discuss risk factors and behaviors to avoid, examine how alcohol, prescription medication and over-the-counter medications impact seniors differently and learn how to use tools to feel empowered about health. 

Door prizes and free food will be available during each of the two-hour sessions that will be offered at Jay Community Center. 

To learn more, contact Stephanie Patterson of Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition at (260) 251-3259.