Autism workshop is set for April 10
An opportunity to learn about autism in the workplace is scheduled for next week.
Shafer Leadership Academy will host “Autism at Work: Awareness, Accommodations, and Advocacy” at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, April 10, at the Innovation Connector in recognition of Autism Awareness Month.
The session will include information about the experiences of autistic employees, best practices for workplace accommodations and strategies for self-advocacy. Panelists include Courtney Jarrett of Ball State University, Rhonda Jo Wood of Easterseals Crossroads and Melanie Wright of Ivy Tech Community College.
The event is free and lunch will be provided. Those interested in attending should register at shaferleadership.com/events/autism-at-work.
Auditions scheduled
Jay County Civic Theatre will hold auditions for its September production of “Legally Blonde The Musical” from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, May 5, and Tuesday, May 6, at the Jay County Campus of Arts Place, 131 E. Walnut St., Portland.
Auditions are open to anyone. Participants may come at any time on either day of auditions.
Attendees are asked to prepare about 30 seconds of a musical theatre song to show their vocal ability. They may also be asked to read from the script. Be prepared to attend call backs from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday, May 8, if requested.
Those who are unable to attend the auditions but still want to be part of the show should contact director Brad Younts at bmyounts@gmail.com. For more information, visit jaycountycivic.org or email info@jaycountycivic.org.
Police participating
Police in Indiana are participating in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s campaign to curb speeding and distracted driving.
Additional patrols to look for offenders will be in place from April 5 through 19.
“Distracted driving isn’t just risky, it’s deadly,” said Indiana Criminal Justice Institute traffic safety director James Bryan in a press release. “Taking your eyes off the road for even just a few seconds can change a life forever. No text, call, or notification is worth the cost of a crash.”
Distributions set
Second Harvest Food Bank will host tailgate food distributions next week.
Distributions are scheduled for:
•10 a.m. Thursday, April 3, Blackford County Fairgrounds, 409 E. Park Ave., Hartford City
•10 a.m. Saturday, April 5, at Second Harvest Warehouse, 6621 N. Old State Route 3, Muncie
Program available
Indiana State Department of Agriculture is offering a free soil sampling opportunity.
The program is open to row crop fields, pastures, hay and specialty crops. Eligible landowners will be prioritized by acreage (100 acres or fewer) and whether the field have been sampled previously or regularly.
Those interested in the program can sign up at in.gov/isda. The deadline is Friday, April 4.
Circus is coming
The Jay County Campus of Arts Place will host a Cincinnati Circus duo for shows at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday, April 12.
The event will feature a performance by a pair of circus performers. There will also be free activities such as face painting and juggling demonstrations.
Tickets are $7 and are available at myartsplace.org.
Arts Place’s Blackford County Arts Center is hosting the Regional Student Art Exhibit through April 10. It includes pieces from students at Blackford Junior-Senior High School, Bluffton High School and Southern Wells High School.
Camp coming
Students will have the opportunity to explore curiosity and creativity in problem-solving this summer.
Camp Invention, a summer enrichment camp program, will visit Blackford Intermediate School beginning June 2.
The program, a partnership between the National Inventors Hall of Fame and the United States Patent and Trademark Officers, challenges kindergarten through sixth graders to work on their problem-solving skills via hands-on activities. The goal is to build confidence, leadership, perseverance and resourcefulness.
For more information, or to register, visit invent.org/camp.
Preparing for 250th
Blackford County is getting ready for the semiquincentennial.
Blackford County Historian Joe Castelo is organizing a coordinating committee to help with planning events for the celebration of the 250th anniversary of American independence in 2026.
Organizations are asked to contact the coordinating committee with their project proposals by emailing u.s.250blackfordco@gmail.com. The committee will work to help, advise and assist in scheduling and carrying out events.
Holding arguments
The Indiana Supreme Court will hold oral arguments at 1 a.m. Thursday, April 10, at Indiana Wesleyan University’s Chapel Auditorium, 4201 S. Washington St., Marion.
The court will hear arguments in two cases concerning landowner liability. Seating will be on a first-come, first-serve basis.
For more information, email Sarah.Kidwell@courts.in.gov.
Seeking input
Minnetrista Museum and Gardens of Muncie is seeking public input.
The facility is looking for feedback on how it can better engage with and support the east central Indiana community. A survey is available at survey.alchemer.com/s3/8056406/minnetrista.
Minnetrista also has “A Community Portrait: Spring” will be on display through May 11. It features photographs from the community by photographer Tom Styrkowicz.
Registration is open for Camp Minnetrista, a series of camps for children ages 8 through 14.
Camps include:
•Junior Chefs Camp for ages 9 through 11 from June 2 through 6
•Culinary Skills camp for children 12 through 14 from June 9 through 13
•Glass Artists Camp for children ages 11 through 14 from June 23 through 27
•Explorer’s Camp for children 8 through 10 from July 7 through 11.
For more information, or to register, visit minnetrista.net/events-for-families.
Hosting workshops
Red-Tail Land Conservancy will host several workshops in the coming months, including an Earth Day Tree Planting on Saturday, April 19, at Phyllis & Frank Yuhas Woods .
The tree planting will run from 1 to 4 p.m. April 19, at Yuhas Woods, 5964 W. 400 South, Farmland.
Other upcoming events include:
•Arbor Day Shrub Giveaway on Saturday, April 26, at Minnetrista
•Wildflower Celebration on Sunday, May 4, at Yuhas Woods
There are also various volunteer opportunities available in the coming weeks, including weed wrangling from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 12 at John M. Craddock Wetland Nature Preserve in Muncie; White River Sampling Blitz from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Prairie Creek Park in Selma; and a work day from 9 a.m. to noon Friday, April 25, at Dutro-Ernst Woods in Muncie.
For more information or to register (if required), visit fortheland.org/events.
Programs scheduled
Charles W. Brown Planetarium at Ball State University will host a series of programs.
The events in April include Magic Tree House: Space Mission, which is based on characters Jack and Annie of the children’s book series searching for answers to a riddle with some help from an astronomer and astronaut. It is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Saturdays, April 12 and 26.
Other upcoming shows are:
Sunset Meditation — A meditation experience with view of the sunset and night sky, as well as the Northern Lights, at 5 p.m. Fridays, April 11 and 25, and Saturdays, April 12 and 26.
Solar Superstorms — A lesson about the sun’s magnetic fields and plasma, solar tornadoes and coronal mass ejections at 6:30 p.m. Fridays, April 11 and 25, and Saturdays, April 12 and 26.
For more information, visit bsu.edu/planetarium.
Tickets on sale
Tickets are on sale for several upcoming concerts at the new Gas City Performing Arts Center.
The lineup at the arts center includes An Evening with Amy Grant on Saturday, April 12, Night Ranger on Saturday, April 26, and Blippi: Join the Band Tour on Tuesday, May 13. Tickets for all three are on sale at gascitypac.com.
Cooper to perform
Tickets are on sale for Alice Cooper’s performance at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 15, at Ball State University’s Emens Auditorium.
They are available at the Emens box office by calling (765) 285-1539 as well as online at ticketmaster.com.
Camps scheduled
Indiana State Police has announced its dates and locations for its summer camps, including several in Anderson.
Pioneer Camps, which are by recommendation only, will be held for 11 through 14 year olds in June, with one set for June 16 through 19 at Mounds State Park in Anderson.
Other camps in Anderson include a Law Camp for sixth, seventh and eighth graders will be held June 29 through July 2 and a Career Camp for high school students from June 22 through 28. Shield Project is scheduled for June 4 through 8 at Anderson University.
For more information, or to register, visit trooper.org.
