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thens Senior Card Group

The Senior Citizens card group met on March 23 for weekly card playing at the Athens Area Fire and Ambulance Hall. Three games of Sheepshead were played. David Perrodin won the first game and Steve Klockziem took second place. Rick Schaetzel won the second game and Alvira Henrichs took second. Delmer Paul won the third game and Sally Stubbe took second. Pat Frank received low score.

Newcomers are encouraged to come play Sheepshead every Thursday from 1-3:30 p.m. at the Athens Fire Hall.

MCPL Story Time

Bring your entire family to story time. Children of all ages and parents/guardians are welcome to these 30-minute programs that include stories, songs and other literature- based activities.

Mondays (April 3, 10, 17, 24) from 10:30-11 a.m. at the Athens MCPL branch, 221 Caroline St.

MCPL Needle Felting

Adults can learn how to needle felt using raw and dyed wool during a week-long craft event at the Marathon County Public Library’s Athens Branch, 221 Caroline St. Stop in any time the branch is open from April 10-15 to participate. Free, with all supplies provided. For more info, call 715-257-7292.

MCPL Book Club

Each month, the library staff and book club participants discuss a wide range of featured selections. This month’s discussion, held on April 11 at 2 p.m., will be about “The Night Tiger” by Yangsze Choo. For more info, call 715-257-7292.

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dgar Wien Wildcats 4H Club Minutes

On March 25, the monthly meeting of the Wien Wildcats 4H Club was held. During the meeting, a discussion of club shirt designs and the new club banner continued.

The club pizza fry fundraiser was finalized and members will be picking up their pizzas for delivery soon. A thank you to M& M Bakery for making the pizzas for the club was noted.

A committee was formed to look into setting up a date for the club to attend Melody Gardens for rollerskating next month.

After the meeting ended the officers and project leaders held educational activities. These included a dairy cattle nutrition seminar, a Hoards Dairyman cattle judging contest, assembling fair board decorations and creating Easter cards for local nursing homes.

Ripon College Dean’s List

Oscar Telschow, who is majoring in history with a minor in educational studies, has been named to the Ripon College Dean’s List for the fall 2022 semester. To qualify, students must achieve a 3.4 GPA or higher and complete at least 12 credits.

MCPL Book Club

Join the library staff and other enthusiastic book lovers for a monthly discussion of a variety of titles. This month’s discussion will be about “Anxious People” by Fredrik Backman on April 11 at 12 p.m. For more info, call 715-352-3155.

MCPL Story Time

Bring your entire family to story time. Children of all ages and parents/guardians are welcome to these 30-minute programs that include stories, songs and other literature- based activities.

Tuesdays (April 4 and 18) from 11-11:30 a.m. at the Edgar MCPL branch, 224 S. Third Ave.

Medical equipment

The Edgar American Legion in Edgar has good, used medical equipment that can be loaned out. If you are in need, call Sylvia Fergot at 715-352-2221.

Edgar free breakfast

Edgar School District has announced it will participate in a new Universal Free Breakfast Program. All students qualify and there is no application for the family to complete.

While breakfasts will be free, lunches will not. Low income families are encouraged to apply for the Free or Reduced Meal Program offered through USDA.

For more information, contact Edgar food service director Rebecca Larson at 715352-3321 or at rlarson@gapps. edgar.k12.wi.us.

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arathon MCPL Book Club

Join fellow readers and the library staff in a lively discussion of “The School for Good Mothers” by Jessamine Chan on April 10, 5:45 p.m. For more info, call 715-4432775.

MCPL Story Time

Bring your entire family to story time. Children of all ages and parents/guardians are welcome to these 45-minute programs that include stories, songs and other literature- based activities.

Thursdays (April 6, 13, 20, 27) from 10:30-11:15 a.m., at the Marathon MCPL branch, 515 Washington St.

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tratford MCPL LEGO Brick Building Brain Break

Between April 7-14, kids and teens can build with LEGO bricks at the Marathon County Public Library’s Stratford branch, 213201 Scholar St. Different challenges will be offered during the week, along with books to inspire your creativity. Geared toward children ages 6 and up. Stop in any time the Stratford branch is open to participate. Call 715-687-4420 for more info.

MCPL Story Time

Bring your entire family to story time. Children of all ages and parents/guardians are welcome to these 30-minute programs that include stories, songs and other literature- based activities.

Wednesdays (April 5, 12, 19, 26) from 10:30-11 a.m. at the Stratford MCPL branch, 213201 Scholar St.

MCPL Book Club

Join the library staff and fellow readers for a book club discussion on “Bewilderment” by Richard Powers on April 19 at 1 p.m. For more info, call 715-687-4420.

ounty MAREA minutes

The March 20 meeting of Marshfield Area Retired Educators’ was called to order by President Doreen Schultz with 20 members in attendance.

Following the Pledge to the Flag, secretary’s minutes of the February meeting were approved. Treasurer’s report was placed on file. A thank you note from Stratford Food Pantry was read.

Reports: Community Action: Today’s food pantry donations will go to CUP Food Pantry in Colby, with Ruby Pinter delivering the donations. Members were thanked for their generous money and food item donations.

Health Issues: Kathleen Hasenohrl shared information on food serving sizes and reminded members to check serving sizes on food packages.

Legislative Issues: Bruce Stevens shared information on Wisconsin budget proposals.

Membership: Directories will be available at the April meeting.

Pension: Carol Subera reported final numbers on retirement pension will be coming out soon.

Public Relations: A sign-up sheet, for making Easter contacts, was circulated.

Scholarship: Ruby Pinter reported that April 6 was the deadline for scholarship applications.

Volunteer Hours: Continue recording hours.

WREA Foundation: Dorothy Dietsche circulated the foundation box for members donations.

Old/New Business: President Schultz thanked members for bringing donations for the gift basket for the District Meeting in Stevens Point. Members were encouraged to bring additional items to the April meeting. Members volunteered for District Meeting duties.

Ruby Pinter was thanked for serving as meeting greeter and Carol Ballerstein was thanked for providing meeting treats.

Doreen Schultz shared information on celebration of MAREA’s 50th anniversary. Members voted to have a pizza party at Stoney Acres, Athens, on June 30.

Ruby Pinter reported that sign up for the Festival brat fry, June 8, would take place at the April meeting.

Members shared their responses to the question: Who is your hero?

April meeting speakers will be area foreign exchange students.

Meeting Program: A question/answer on the topic of scams began the program, led by Carol Ballerstein.

Forty-five billion dollars is the amount of money scammed in 2021, with $48 million scammed in Wisconsin. The dark web, which began as a Navy intelligence technology, helped make scamming by criminals prevalent. It was noted that Amazon fraud accounts for one third of business fraud, with $814 being the average amount older Americans are scammed. Medicare will never telephone, offering genetic testing, Covid tests, medical equipment or even enrollment.

Talking about scams helps others since scammers prey on emotions of sadness, happiness, fear and shame. Members shared their personal stories of being scammed, and concluded that scammers are so good at what they do that one is often unaware they are being scammed until it is too late. Scamming is often organized crime with many involved from many locations.

MCPL Grab & Go Adult Craft

From April 1-30, adults can pick up a free Grab & Go craft kit from any of the nine Marathon County Public Library locations. The kit will contain supplies for making a needlepoint butterfly magnet. Free and available while supplies last. For more info, call 715-261-7230.

MCPL Story Contest

Teens and tweens can submit short stories to the Marathon County Public Library’s 2-Sentence Story Contest! Stories can be submitted until April 29 in two different age categories – 8-12 years old and 13-18 years old. Stories cannot be more than 2 sentences long. The winning stories will be illustrated by MCPL staff. Free. For more info, call 715-261-7220.

MCPL Tween Writing Group

From January 1 through May 31, young writers between the ages of 8-14 can hone their writing skills by participating in an online tween writing group organized by the Marathon County Public Library.

Each month, a new writing prompt will be posted in the group, giving participants new material to think and write about. Registration is required. To register, visit https://bit.ly/3GzgWaK. For more info, call 715-261-7220.

MCPL Grab & Go Kids Craft

From April 1-30, the Marathon County Public Library will offer a free Grab & Go kit for kids at all nine of its locations. Each kit will contain supplies for making stamp pads. Kits are free and available while supplies last and can be picked up any time the library is open. For more info, call 715-261-7220.