Coming events

Wednesday, Sept. 20

Professor Eiren Shea will discuss “From Beijing to Venice: The Arts of the Mongol Empire” at the next Bucket Course at Grinnell College. The course will be held from 10-11:30 a.m. in the Caulkins Community Room of the Drake Community Library. Bucket Courses are open to everyone in the community; no preregistration or fee required. Donations toward refreshments are welcome.

The Belle Plaine Community Library will host a fall tea at 2 p.m. with Kathy Wilson. Wilson will present A Place for Escape, a program that traces the transformation of English herb gardens to cottage gardens. The cost is $10 per person or $15 for two. The Belle Plaine library is located at 904 Main St.

Friday, Sept. 22

The Williamsburg Farmers Market is open from 4-6 p.m. on the town square.

Belle Plaine Community Library, located at 904 Main St., provides Story Time to children the second and fourth Fridays of each month at 9:30 a.m.

Saturday, Sept. 23

Marengo’s farmers market is open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the north park pavilion.

The last dance of the old American Legion Hall will begin at 5 p.m. at 1240 Lafayette Ave. in Marengo. A meal will be served from 5-7 p.m. for a freewill donation. Live music is scheduled for 7-10 p.m. A cash bar will be available. The event is subject to a cover charge. Proceeds will pay for new kitchen equipment.

A ribbon-cutting for the renovation of the play area at Victor’s Waterworks Park is set for 4-6 p.m. A temporary tattoo artist and a balloon twister from Zoops Fun Zone will be present from 4-5 p.m., and the Grinnell Hy-Vee will serve a picnic meal from 5-6 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 24

Tyler Priest, associate professor of history at the University of Iowa, will present "The United States of Oil at the English Valleys History Center at 2 p.m. The program will explain how Americans have produced and consumed more oil in the past 100 years than any other people on earth. The English Valleys History Center is located at 108 N. Main St. in North English. The event is free, but donations will be accepted.

Marengo Community Center, 1083 Court Ave., will host a chili supper from 4-6:30 p.m. Chili, relishes, pie and a drink will be available for a donation.

Wednesday, Sept. 27

The Williamsburg Public Library will hold its early-out Lego club for first and second grades from 1-2:45 p.m. Sign-up is required and sessions are limited to 20 participants. Children are required to stay the full session unless picked up by a guardian. Contact the library to sign up.

Thursday, Sept. 28

The Food Council at Belle Plaine Specialty Care, 1505 Sunset Dr., will play Bingo with Care Initiatives Hospice at 2 p.m.