Events

Grinnell Arts Council hosts Thursday Music in the Park on the Central Park stage at 7 p.m. Bring blankets and camp chairs, grab a bite from a local restaurant or the Hy-Vee food truck at the park and enjoy The Awful Purdies, five women who harmonize with banjo, accordion, cello, guitar, mandolin and bass. Check the Arts Council’s Facebook page or listen to KGRN 1410 AM radio for inclement weather updates.

Saturday, June 1

Ladora Development Committee kicks off its summer events at Wayne Shaull Memorial Field with a dummy board, or bags, tournament starting at 1 p.m. Sign-in begins at noon. I’m So Hungry and Peppy’s Ice Cream will arrive with their food trucks at 6 p.m. before live music with Meadowland begins at 7 p.m., lasting until about 11 p.m. Tickets to Blank Park Zoo and a Cedar Rapids Kernels game will be up for auction during the band’s break, and a 50/50 drawing will be held. Beer, pop and water are available for purchase. Coolers are not allowed, but residents should bring lawn chairs. Wayne Shaull Field is located at 804 Iowa Street in Ladora.

The Pioneer Heritage Museum at 675 E South St. in Marengo will open for the summer with a grill lunch from 11-1 p.m. after which the museum will open until 4 p.m. Summer hours are 12-4 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays through the end of September and by appointment by calling 319-642-7018.

St. Paul Lutheran Church in Williamsburg will sponsor Meals from the Heartland, a meal packaging event for distribution in Iowa and worldwide. The church needs donations and volunteers to pack the meals. Its goal is to pack 30,000 meals and raise $8,700. The event will begin at 10 a.m. at the Lutheran Interparish School in Williamsburg. A light lunch will follow. Call Monica Miller at the school, 319-668-1711 for information about how to help or donate.

Sunday, June 2

The Benton County Relay for Life is set for 6-10 p.m. at the Benton Community High School track in Van Horne. Cancer survivors are encouraged to sign in at Relay by 5:30 p.m. to receive a free T-shirt and to be honored during the Survivors’ Ceremony and lap at 7 p.m. Luminaria can be purchased at the Relay June 2 or ahead of the relay by contacting Ev Wiebke at 319-228-8974.

Tuesday, June 4

Polls for the Primary Election in Iowa are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters can find their polling places through their county auditors’ offices or at the website of the Secretary of State, sos.iowa.gov.

Wednesday, June 5

Victor Public Library will host Disaster Prepwise from 5:15-6:15 p.m. The program helps older adults prepare for emergency and disaster situations. A 30-45 minute presentation will be followed by time for questions, thoughts and comments. Victor Public Library is located at 710 Second St. in Victor.

The Heart of Iowa Dems will host a forum, Republican Educations Policies Are Destroying Our Public Schools, at 7 p.m. via Zoom. Join the conversation about the state of public education in Iowa and across the U.S. Guests will be Thom Hartmann, who has been following the national Republican move to privatize education and downgrade public schools, and Rob Sand, who has spoken out on the need for more accountability and oversight of spending in the Iowa education voucher program. Register for the Zoom call at heartofiowadems.com/register. Contact heartofiowadems@gmail.com with any questions.

The Poweshiek County Historical and Genealogical Society has planned a potluck for noon. Anyone interested in Poweshiek County history is invited to attend. Bring a covered dish to share. Table service, water and coffee will be provided. The noon meal will take place in the lower level of the Carnegie building located at 200 South Third Street in Montezuma. A handicapped entrance can be found at the south side of the building.