The Oskaloosa Rotary Club meets weekly on Tuesdays at noon at the Peppertree.  Meetings include lunch, a speaker, fellowship and updates on club and community activities.  Non-members are invited to stop by and see how Oskaloosa Rotary strengthens the community and world. For more information, visit their Facebook page.

*Oskaloosa VENDOR and Farmers Market* 404 A Ave W (Hwy 92) – NW Penn Central Mall parking. High visibility, easy parking, local Mahaska County PRODUCT VENDORS as well as the vital PRODUCE products you’ve come to know and crave!! New vendors always welcome. Tuesday’s 4-6pm and Saturday’s 8-11am! Visit their Facebook Page for additional details and contact information.

Due to Covid 19, some additional restrictions are put in place…. Please read.

Mahaska County will offer Master Gardener training this fall.  Classes will be Tuesdays August 25-November 24 with class on ISU campus Saturday October 10.  Cost will be $195. Note:  The Mahaska County Master Gardeners will cover $45 of the class fee for the first six to pay the class fee in Mahaska County in 2020.  More information is available at the Mahaska County Extension Office.  Enrollment begins by registering online at the Iowa Master Gardener website https://www.extension.iastate.edu/mastergardener/become-master-gardener and is due by August 1. Enrollment is not complete until background screening is submitted and training fee is paid to Mahaska County Extension Office.  If needed, we will make adjustments to comply with the current COVID 19 social distancing and gathering restrictions at the time of training.

Mahaska County will use a different format for Master Gardeners training than used previously.  The core training will be webcasts (viewed on your own) and face to face sessions with activities (field trips/tours, games, etal) related to the topics. Face to face sessions will be on Tuesday evenings beginning at 5:30 pm* and last 1-3 hours.  The start time MAY change after the field trips/tours are complete.  Topics covered range from lawn care; flower and vegetable gardening; ornamental trees and shrubs; fruit crops and houseplants to insect, disease and weed control; soil; plant nutrition and pesticide safety.

In exchange for training, participants are asked to volunteer 40 hours of service to the local extension program.

More information regarding horticulture programming can be found at the Mahaska County Extension Office; 212 North I Street; Oskaloosa Phone 641-673-5841; andwww.extension.iastate.edu/mahaska/yardgarden.htm.

Women of the community are invited to attend Tuesday Evening Coffee Break beginning with a picnic at 1st Christian Reformed Church, 815 N. 11th St. in Oskaloosa. Classes continue weekly at the Church to include an evening meal at 5:45 followed by Bible study 6:15-7:15 for women and Bible stories, games & crafts for their children. Class groups will be in larger rooms. Please wear a mask if that makes you more comfortable. The group will be studying the book of Acts. (Nursery can be arranged for infants.) Call Deb at 641-660-8290 or Dena 641.660.5671.

Note: No meeting Nov. 24, Dec. 22, Dec. 29 and Jan. 5

The Young Professionals Book Club will be discussing “$2.00 a Day: Living on Almost Nothing in America” by Kathryn J. Edin, H. Luke Shaefer

Please contact Book Vault (641.676.1777) if you have questions about book clubs or are interested in joining. Members receive a 15% discount on club selections.

• During these uncertain times, Book Vault will be opened as follows:
  • Customers are asked to please wear a mask while in the store.
  • 10 persons are allowed in the store at any one time. Please be prepared to wait outside, if necessary.
  • No minors in the store unless accompanied by a parent.

Do you help take care of an adult with chronic conditions? If so, you are not alone. Over 43.5 million family caregivers in America provide a vast array of emotional, financial, nursing, social, homemaking and other services on a daily or an intermittent basis.

Powerful Tools for Caregivers is an educational series designed to provide tools you need to take care of yourself.  If you take good care of yourself, you will be better prepared to take good care of your loved one. As a participant you will learn how to: reduce stress, improve self-confidence, better communicate your feelings, balance your life, increase ability to make tough decisions and locate helpful resources.

Iowa State University Extension is sponsoring Powerful Tools for Caregivers in Oskaloosa this September. This program has been tested and evaluated through a grant from the U.S. Administration on Aging. Mahaska County Extension is making this series possible.

Classes consist of six, 90 minute sessions held once a week. Two group leaders conduct each class. Interactive lessons, discussions and brainstorming help you take the “tools” you choose and put them into action for your life.

Sessions are scheduled every Wednesday for six weeks and begin on September 2. Classes will be held at Mahaska County Extension from 6:30 – 8:00 pm.  There is a $20 fee per individual/couple for the program. For more information contact Lea De Cook at 641-673-5841. Online registration is available at https://bit.ly/ptc16406 until August 27. Registration is limited to meet social distancing requirements.

Oskaloosa News will host a Mahaska County Candidate Forum on September 23 (7 to 9 p.m.), Center Court of Penn Central Mall. There are two separate races, and so questions will be asked of candidates based upon the different races. Candidates Mark Groenendyk and Kathryn Kaul-Goodman will be available to take questions starting at 7 pm. They are running for a 4-year term. Candidates Lisa Ossian and Chuck Webb will be available starting at approximately 8 pm. They are running to fill a 2-year term left open following Steve Parker’s resignation.

Women of the community are invited to attend Thursday Morning Coffee Break at Oskaloosa 1st Christian Reformed Church, 815 North 11th St. Each week includes coffee and snacks at 9:30 with community Bible study from 10 – 11, continuing with the Gospel of Mark. Call the church at 641-673-4272 for more information. This non-denominational group meets September through April. Join any time.

The Lunch Bunch Book Club  will be discussing “A Woman is No Man” by Etaf Rum.

Please contact Book Vault (641.676.1777) if you have questions about book clubs or are interested in joining. Members receive a 15% discount on club selections.

During these uncertain times, Book Vault will be opened as follows:

• • • Customers are asked to please wear a mask while in the store.
    • 10 persons are allowed in the store at any one time. Please be prepared to wait outside, if necessary.
    • No minors in the store unless accompanied by a parent.

Join the Mahaska County Master Gardeners on Thursday September 24 at 7 pm for a Zoom meeting on Fall Flower tasks.  They will be talking about planting spring bulbs, taking cuttings of annuals, seed saving and more. The event is FREE and open to the public.  Registration is required by Noon September 24.  To register contact Suzette Striegel, Mahaska County Horticulturist by phone 641-673-5841 or email striegel@iastate.edu.  Zoom link will be provided to those who register. 

More information about this and other horticulture events can be found at the Mahaska County Extension Office; 212 North I Street; Oskaloosa Phone 641-673-5841; and www.extension.iastate.edu/mahaska/yardgarden.htm.

the Exchange for Entrepreneurs hosts “Coffee & Conversation” every Friday morning at 7:30 a.m. in Pizza Ranch. Bring your own coffee, your business ideas, questions, challenges and wins. Everyone welcome! Visit the Exchange’s Calendar Page for other planned Education Presentations, Story Telling, and Social hours.

The Oskaloosa Rotary Club meets weekly on Tuesdays at noon at the Peppertree.  Meetings include lunch, a speaker, fellowship and updates on club and community activities.  Non-members are invited to stop by and see how Oskaloosa Rotary strengthens the community and world. For more information, visit their Facebook page.

*Oskaloosa VENDOR and Farmers Market* 404 A Ave W (Hwy 92) – NW Penn Central Mall parking. High visibility, easy parking, local Mahaska County PRODUCT VENDORS as well as the vital PRODUCE products you’ve come to know and crave!! New vendors always welcome. Tuesday’s 4-6pm and Saturday’s 8-11am! Visit their Facebook Page for additional details and contact information.

Due to Covid 19, some additional restrictions are put in place…. Please read.

Mahaska County will offer Master Gardener training this fall.  Classes will be Tuesdays August 25-November 24 with class on ISU campus Saturday October 10.  Cost will be $195. Note:  The Mahaska County Master Gardeners will cover $45 of the class fee for the first six to pay the class fee in Mahaska County in 2020.  More information is available at the Mahaska County Extension Office.  Enrollment begins by registering online at the Iowa Master Gardener website https://www.extension.iastate.edu/mastergardener/become-master-gardener and is due by August 1. Enrollment is not complete until background screening is submitted and training fee is paid to Mahaska County Extension Office.  If needed, we will make adjustments to comply with the current COVID 19 social distancing and gathering restrictions at the time of training.

Mahaska County will use a different format for Master Gardeners training than used previously.  The core training will be webcasts (viewed on your own) and face to face sessions with activities (field trips/tours, games, etal) related to the topics. Face to face sessions will be on Tuesday evenings beginning at 5:30 pm* and last 1-3 hours.  The start time MAY change after the field trips/tours are complete.  Topics covered range from lawn care; flower and vegetable gardening; ornamental trees and shrubs; fruit crops and houseplants to insect, disease and weed control; soil; plant nutrition and pesticide safety.

In exchange for training, participants are asked to volunteer 40 hours of service to the local extension program.

More information regarding horticulture programming can be found at the Mahaska County Extension Office; 212 North I Street; Oskaloosa Phone 641-673-5841; andwww.extension.iastate.edu/mahaska/yardgarden.htm.

Women of the community are invited to attend Tuesday Evening Coffee Break beginning with a picnic at 1st Christian Reformed Church, 815 N. 11th St. in Oskaloosa. Classes continue weekly at the Church to include an evening meal at 5:45 followed by Bible study 6:15-7:15 for women and Bible stories, games & crafts for their children. Class groups will be in larger rooms. Please wear a mask if that makes you more comfortable. The group will be studying the book of Acts. (Nursery can be arranged for infants.) Call Deb at 641-660-8290 or Dena 641.660.5671.

Note: No meeting Nov. 24, Dec. 22, Dec. 29 and Jan. 5

The OWLS (Older, Wiser, Learning Seniors) is a group program with MCCB designed for adults and senior learners with an interest in environmental science and conservation topics. Programs are presented monthly by the MCCB Naturalist and guest speakers. The programs are held on the lower level of the Environmental Learning Center on Hwy 92 from 11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. on the dates listed below. For more information, contact MCCB, 641.673.9227.

• Sept. 30: “Honey Bees” with presenter Tina Marshall, local beekeeper