Sing and Play with Allie Jean
Local bluegrass singer Allie Jean and her son Daniel play music during an interview at The Republic in Columbus in 2022. Allie Jean, who recorded a children’s album with Daniel to help raise awareness about kids with disabilities, regularly appears for sessions of “Sing and Play with Allie Jean” at the Bartholomew County Public Library, 536 Fifth St., Columbus. The sessions are designed for little ones ages 2-5. Upcoming sessions are 10 a.m. Friday and 4 p.m. Jan. 19. Sessions are free but registration is required at mybcpl.org/events.
Kids and teens
BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY, 536 Fifth St., Columbus. Scheduled: Whatever the Weather Storytime and Playdate at Donner Park, 11 a.m., Jan. 10; Teen Watch-It Wednesday: 2023 Releases, 3:30 p.m., Jan. 10, 17, 24; Builders Guild: Cold Challenge, 4 p.m., Jan. 10; Library Babies, 10 and 10:30 a.m., Jan. 11, 18, 25; Teen Thursgame, 3:30 p.m., Jan. 11, 25; Teen Dungeons and Dragons, 3:30 p.m., Jan. 11; Tween Game Time, 3:30 p.m., Jan. 11, 18, 25; STEMnastics: Elephant’s Toothpaste, 5 p.m., Jan. 11; Sing and Play with Allie Jean, 10 a.m., Jan. 12, 4 p.m., Jan. 19; Teen Ugly Sweater Decorating, 3:30 p.m., Jan. 12; Saturday Storytime: Lollipop Party, 11 a.m., Jan. 13; The Disassemblers, 1:30 p.m., Jan. 13; Teen Volunteer Day, 1 p.m., Jan. 15; Toddler Time, 9:15 and 10 a.m., Jan. 16, 23; Cutenos y Cantos, 11 a.m., Jan. 16; Homeschool Hangout, 11 a.m., Jan. 16; Teen TuesGame, 3:30 p.m., Jan. 16; Preschool STEAM: Shadows and Light, 11 a.m., Jan. 17; Teen Edgar Allan Poe Birthday Celebration, 3:30 p.m., Jan. 18; Teen Popcorn and Coloring Party, 3:30 p.m., Jan. 19; Kids’ Ukulele Class, 4:30 p.m., Jan. 19; Teen Crochet Camp, 3:30 p.m., Jan. 22; Pokémon Club, 4 p.m., Jan. 22, 23; Family Storytime, 6 p.m., Jan. 22; Preschool Storytime, 11 a.m., Jan. 23; Playdate, 11 a.m., Jan. 24; After School Special: “Elemental,” 3:30 p.m., Jan. 24; Teen One-Shot RPG: Wanderhome, 3:30 p.m., Jan. 25; Teen Trivia Challenge: Taylor Swift Edition, 3:30 p.m., Jan. 26; Kids Kitchen, 2 p.m., Jan. 27. Information: mybcpl.org/events.
Sports, exercise, wellness
BLACKWELL PARK STORYWALK, Blackwell Park, 1550 Whitney Court, Columbus. Enjoy some fresh air while strolling the Bartholomew County Public Library’s StoryWalk. The StoryWalk is located along the People Trail near the Pollinator Park in Blackwell Park.
SWIMMING FOR EXERCISE, Foundation for Youth, 405 Hope Ave., Columbus. Lap swimming, water aerobics and public swim are available. You must preregister for current swim sessions. Information: foundationforyouth.com.
VALENTINE’S BALLROOM DANCE, 7 to 10 p.m., Feb. 17, The Commons, 300 Washington St., Columbus. Dance Indiana’s Valentine’s Ballroom Dance is $30 per person. Tickets can be purchased at the door by cash or check. Light refreshments will be served and a cash bar will be available. Semi-formal to formal attire. For questions, email [email protected] or visit Dance Indiana’s Facebook page.
Education
BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY BLACK AND BLACK-BIRACIAL MINI CONFERENCE, 9:30 a.m. or 6 p.m., Jan. 11, Columbus Learning Center, 4555 Central Ave., Columbus. A free mini conference with the theme of “Empowering Parents and Caregivers: Navigating the Education Journey.” Session options include: BCSC Parent Square & Power School Parent Portal login and use; best practices for communicating with your student’s school; education pathways; 504 plans; improving your student’s reading level; information parents and caregivers of high schoolers need to know; and individualized education plans. Afterward there will be a “greet and meet” networking opportunity that will provide free snacks and help replenish students’ school supplies. Register and learn more at https://forms.gle/9YK4bn1ZTNfb7BTL8.
NAMI FAMILY-TO-FAMILY, 6 to 8:30 p.m., Jan. 15, 22, 29, Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26, The Commons, 300 Washington St., Columbus. NAMI Family-to-Family is a free, eight-session education program for family, friends and significant others of adults with mental health conditions. The course is designed to increase understanding and advocacy skills while helping participants maintain their own well-being. The program is taught by trained family members who have a loved one with a mental health condition. For more information and to register, please call or text: 317-390-9023 or 812-376-9364.
Miscellaneous
BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY, 536 Fifth St., Columbus. Scheduled: Author Talk: Rebecca Serle, 8 p.m., Jan. 10; Adult Game Night at Columbus Bar, 6 p.m., Jan. 15; Chair Yoga, 1 p.m., Jan. 16, 23; Adult Craft Night: Embroidered Snowflake, 6 p.m., Jan. 16: Civil War Book Club, 5:30 p.m., Jan. 17; Music with Valerie, 10:30 a.m., Jan. 19; Hooks and Needles Meetup, 11 a.m., Jan. 20; Author Talk: Rajiv Nagaich, 2 p.m., Jan. 23; Reading with Friends, 9:30 a.m., Jan. 24; Sugar & Spice Romance Book Club, 6 p.m., Jan. 25. Information: mybcpl.org/events.
MEETING OF THE GRANNY CONNECTION, 1 p.m., Jan. 12, First Presbyterian Church, 512 Seventh St., Columbus. Interested persons, please call 812-343-0012.
COLUMBUS VIEWFINDERS CAMERA CLUB, 6 p.m. Jan. 15, Sandy Hook United Methodist Church, 1610 Taylor Road, Columbus. Information: Facebook page for Columbus Viewfinders Photography Club or email [email protected].
GREEN DRINKS, 6 to 8 p.m., Jan. 17, El Nopal Restaurant, 3114 N. National Road, Columbus. John Heichelbech will be presenting his experience with a GeoThermal HVAC/Water Heating system at the upcoming Energy Matters Green Drinks networking event.
PROPELLER LEGO CLUB, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Mondays, Columbus Propeller, 4760 Ray Boll Blvd., Columbus. Come join Propeller’s ever-growing Lego Club. The club is free and open for all ages.
ELKS LODGE BINGO, 6:30 p.m. Fridays and 12:30 p.m. Sundays, Elks 521 Lodge Bingo Hall, 4664 Ray Boll Blvd., Columbus. Doors open at 5 p.m. on Friday and 11 a.m. on Sunday. The first game is at 6:30 p.m. on Friday and 12:30 p.m. on Sunday. Open to the public. Information: 812-379-4386.
VFW POST 1987 BINGO, 215 N. National Road, Columbus, Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. (doors open at 5 p.m.), and the second Saturday of each month from 2 to 6 p.m. (doors open at noon). Open to the public.
AMERICAN LEGION BINGO & KARAOKE, American Legion Post 25, 2515 25th St., Columbus. Bingo is on Tuesdays starting at 6 p.m. Karaoke is on Wednesdays starting at 6 p.m.
COLUMBUS CHESS CLUB, 5 to 9 p.m., Thursdays, Lewellen Chapel, corner of Middle Road and Grissom Street, Columbus. Equipment is furnished. Open to chess players 16 and older. Information: 801-856-4812.
COLUMBUS AREA RAILROAD CLUB OPEN HOUSE, noon to 4 p.m., Jan. 20 and the third Saturday of each month. Trains will be operating layouts in four scales — HO, N, O, and On30. The club is located at the Johnson County Park headquarters building adjacent to Camp Atterbury. Information: Greg Harter, 812-350-8636, or on Facebook at Columbus Area Railroad Club.
GRACE’S TABLE FREE MEAL, 5 p.m., Jan. 14 and the second Sunday of each month, East Columbus United Methodist Church, 2439 Indiana Ave., Columbus. Free meal in the youth center as well as music and storytelling. Enter the church parking lot on Indiana Avenue.
AMERICAN SEWING GUILD, 9 to 11 a.m., Feb. 3 and the first Saturday of each month. Neighborhood group welcomes sewing enthusiasts of all skill levels and walks of life, meets monthly to learn new sewing skills, network with others who share an interest in sewing and participate in community sewing projects. If you are interested in attending, please email Marilyn at [email protected] for meeting location.
COLUMBUS STAR QUILT GUILD, 9:30 a.m. to noon, Feb. 1 and the first Thursday of each month, First Baptist Church Columbus, 3300 Fairlawn Drive, Columbus. Each gathering consists of a short business meeting followed by a quilting lesson/program, along with show-and-tell of finished projects. Members participate in various service projects. New and experienced quilters are invited to attend. Membership dues are $15 per year. For information, visit starquiltersofcolumbus.weebly.com.
EVENING STAR QUILT GUILD, 5:30 to 7 p.m., Feb. 13 and the second Tuesday of each month, Mill Race Center, 900 Lindsey St., Columbus. The Evening Star Quilt Guild is a group of women who enjoy creating traditional and modern art quilts while learning new methods. For more, visit starquiltersofcolumbus.weebly.com.
FRIENDS DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB, 1 to 4:30 p.m. every Thursday, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 2561 N. California St., Columbus. Bridge club open to the public.
Galleries, museums, exhibits
BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, 524 Third St., Columbus. The museum is open Tuesday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. BCHS hosts two permanent exhibits that share the history and heritage of Bartholomew County. Learn about our county through interactive, hands-on exhibits that include a map table, notable people, county timeline, Then and Now, Did You Know, early industrialists and videos of Reeves steam engines. The historical society also hosts rotating exhibits throughout the year featuring items from their extensive collection. Admission is free, with a donation suggested. Information: 812-372-3541, bartholomewhistory.org.
GALLERY 506, Columbus Indiana Visitors Center, 506 Fifth St., Columbus. Open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
YELLOW TRAIL MUSEUM/VISITOR CENTER/RESEARCH CENTER, west side of Hope Town Square, 644 Main St., Hope. The Museum and Research Center are closed for the winter season until April but are available by appointment. For more information: 812-546-8020.
ATTERBURY-BAKALAR AIR MUSEUM, at Columbus Municipal Airport, 4742 Ray Boll Blvd, is currently closed for winter upgrades. The museum will reopen in March 2024. Pending availability, special tours, library access and media center programs may still be scheduled during the closed months by calling 812-372-4356. Visit the museum online at atterburybakalarairmuseum.org and on Facebook.
PERCEPTIONS YOGA, MINDFULNESS & ART, 139 State Road 3, Vernon. The first art show of 2024 will be a retrospective featuring the work of Opal Schuck, a local artist who passed away in 2015 at the age of 97. This show is a little different from previous art shows at Perceptions in that it is a retrospective and no artwork will be for sale. Instead, it is a chance for the public to get to see the artwork from the family’s private collection. The exhibit will be open the entire month with gallery hours from noon to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. Information: perceptionsyoga.org or facebook.com/northvernonyoga.
T.C. STEELE STATE HISTORIC SITE, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday, 4220 T.C. Steele Road, Nashville. Staff is offering special indoor tours — each with a limited number of people. Tours are included with site admission, but preregistration is recommended by calling 812-988-2785. Admission is free on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jan. 15. Information: indianamuseum.org/tcsteele.
TRI-STATE ARTISANS, 422 Washington St., Columbus. Handmade retail gallery of more than 60 local artisans. Unique gifts, fine art, art classes for youth and adults, youth art programs, art parties and home parties. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays. Information: tsartisans.com.
JENNINGS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND MUSEUM, 134 Brown St., Vernon. Museum hours are Wednesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. or by appointment. Information: 812-346-8989, jenningscounty.org.
BROWN COUNTY ART GUILD, 48 S. Van Buren St., Nashville. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays.
THE REPUBLIC BUILDING GALLERY, 333 Second St., Columbus. The gallery is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
411 GALLERY, 411 Sixth St., Columbus. 411 is a community arts gallery and cultural space for exhibitions, events and collaborations with Columbus arts and cultural organizations. The gallery is currently featuring “50/50, A Community Art Project,” a fundraising effort in which 50 local artists transform a 4-inch square block of wood into an original work of art. The galley is open Thursday and Friday from noon to 6 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Learn more about the current exhibition and artists at artsincolumbus.org/411.
HOOSIER ARTIST GALLERY, 45 S. Jefferson St., Nashville. Hoosier Artist Gallery is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Information: hoosierartist.com.
BROWN COUNTY ART GALLERY, 1 Artist Drive, Nashville. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Information: 812-988-4609, [email protected], browncountyartgallery.org.
CHARLENE MARSH STUDIO & GALLERY, 4013 Lanam Ridge Road, Nashville. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Mondays, noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. For more information, please call the studio/gallery at 812-988-4497 or visit charlenemarshstudio.com.
Ongoing
FABULOUS FIRST FRIDAYS WITH MISS POLLY, 12:15 p.m., Feb. 2 and the first Friday of each month. Viewpoint Books, 548 Washington St., Columbus. Information: 812-376-0778.
FOUNDATION FOR YOUTH BOYS & GIRLS CLUB, 405 Hope Ave., Columbus. The Boys & Girls Club is open to children ages 5-18. Information: 812-372-7867.
KIDSCOMMONS, 309 Washington St., Columbus. Ongoing activities are all free with museum admission. Information: 812-378-3046.
