Events And Activities

Amanda Schnor, ReporterThe Benton Community FFA members are delighted to extend a warm invitation to all of our community members to join us for the upcoming FFA Service Auction and Alumni Baked Goods Auction. This annual event promises an evening filled with fellowship, delicious treats, and the opportunity to support our local FFA chapter. This event will take place on Sunday, March 3rd at 5:30 PM at the Van Horne Community Center.

Please find the Vinton Public Library calendar of events below. Featured in the photos are several different activities to watch for!March 7th Hair and Beauty NightMarch 10th Red Carpet FundraiserMarch 11th Violin StorytimeMarch 14th Kid Author EventMarch 16th STEAM EventMarch 21st Open Craft Night featuring crochet with Steph GibbsMarch 23rd

 The Iowa DNR will be hosting four frog and toad call survey training workshops in 2024; 2 in person and 2 live online via Zoom. These workshops are for anybody interested in getting involved in Iowa's Frog and Toad Call Survey which has been collecting data on our state's amphibians for over 30 years! Prospective surveyors must attend one of the four scheduled workshops.

Don’t miss our Paper Snowflakes & Valentines Workshop on Wednesday, February 7 from 4 to 6 PM at Hawkins Memorial Library, La Porte City. Enjoy a relaxed hands-on class with Jamie Goble Brocco, author of Christmas Snowflakes.  Jamie has a variety of patterns available for snowflakes and Valentines, and supplies are provided.

The Vinton-Shellsburg FFA will be holding its annual Spaghetti Dinner will be held tonight. This is a free-will donation dinner during our home basketball games. Everyone is welcome.

Mushroom class will help gatherers identify Iowa mushroomsMushroom gatherers and wild-harvested mushroom sellers from across the state are encouraged to attend Iowa State University Extension and Outreach’s Wild-Harvested Mushroom Certification Class this spring. The class is an especially important resource for those looking to sell wild-harvested mushrooms, as sellers are legally required to complete a certification workshop in order to sell eight different varieties of wild-harvested mushrooms.

The Vinton Public Library is holding a Red Carpet Party as a fundraiser at the library on March 10th from 5-7pm.  We will have big screen TVs airing the celebrity red carpet arrivals to the Academy Awards.  McBride Mobile Taps will be outside selling wine and beer, and we will have appetizers inside as well as trivia and movie-themed games.

You can take a break from this short, hard winter at the Center Point Historical Society’s “Chocolate Love” Valentine chocolate festival, on Saturday, February 10, from 1-4 at the Depot Museum. Joining in the festivities will be Big Creek Chocolates, of Springville--bigcreekchocolates.com on the web. They do truffles, molded and seasonal chocolates and chocolate-dipped and other goodies, and plan to start a monthly chocolates subscription service (oh, be still my heart!) To warm YOUR winter heart, the Historical Society will offer a free hot cocoa bar and a chocolate fountain.

The Community Book Club will be held on Saturday, February 10th, 9:15 am at the Vinton Public Library,  510 2nd Avenue, Vinton.The book being discussed is The Dutch House by Ann Patchett.

American Blood Emergency: The US is experiencing a national blood shortage. Donation rates are at a 20 year low. This means healthcare providers now have to choose who gets blood. Please donate at the Vinton blood drive this Thursday, January 25th from 12:30 - 5:30 p.m. at the Vinton Skate Center. Call 1-800-Red-Cross to donate or sign up at www.