This week in Brookings: September 14–20

The East Central Communications Council will hold its regular meeting on Monday, September 14 to review the operations of emergency dispatch services and cover two technical topics: ongoing work with RFCC Communication Consulting and a reclassification of dispatcher positions within the system. The council includes city and county leadership.

In a different meeting on the same afternoon, members of the Park & Recreation Advisory Board and City Council will take a tour of Edgebrook Golf Course, the Community Food Forest, Dwiggins-Medary Skatepark, and the 5th Street Gym. Though a majority may be present, this tour is not an official meeting and no city business will be conducted.

The City Council study session on Tuesday, September 15 at 6:00 PM opens with an open forum period during which residents can request up to three minutes to address council on topics not on the agenda. Following that, council members may introduce topics they wish to discuss at future meetings. Residents can submit comments in advance by email to cityclerk@cityofbrookings-sd.gov or watch the meeting live at www.cityofbrookings-sd.gov; recordings air Wednesday at 1:00 PM, Thursday at 7:00 PM, Friday at 9:00 PM, and Saturday at 1:00 PM on the Government Channel.

Also Tuesday, the Brookings Regional Growth Alliance will host a New Resident BBQ at Hillcrest Park from 5:30 to 7:00 PM (moving indoors to Hillcrest Elementary if weather turns bad). Members of City Council may attend as individuals, though the gathering is not an official city meeting. The same day, the Human Rights Commission convenes to discuss membership updates, the International Ice Cream Social, budget matters, and an opening on the County Human Rights Commission appointment.

The Public Arts Commission meets Tuesday evening to establish submission procedures and evaluation criteria for public artwork proposals. The Library Board gathers Thursday to review library financials, the strategic plan, policy matters, and a discussion of Hoopla, a digital library service.

Around town, Caregivers and kids can attend Fall Music Makers sessions Monday at the library (10:00 AM and 11:00 AM). The South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum hosts Make & Take Monday on September 14 at 2:30 PM—this month's craft is funny vegetable magnets for $1 each. Play Dates, a free program for children under 3 and their caregivers, meets at the Children's Museum on Tuesday and Saturday mornings. A free professional development workshop, "Lead From Your Highest Vision in 2027," runs Tuesday at 4:00 PM at the Elk's Room downtown. Trivia nights happen Wednesday at Wooden Legs Brewing and Thursday at Eponymous Brewing, both free to play with prizes. The Brookings Professional Network holds its September luncheon Wednesday at 11:30 AM, and the Brookings Tourism Ambassador Certification program runs Wednesday at 12:30 PM. Teens can paint a cat in flowers Wednesday at 3:00 PM at the library, and younger kids join Tween the Pages book club the same day. Library workshops on Thursday offer acorn house painting and assembly for ages 13 and up at 1:00 PM and 5:30 PM (registration begins September 10).

Children's Museum programs Friday include Playful Preschoolers at 8:30 AM and Kids Night In (parents night out) at 5:30 PM. Teesdale Law celebrates its new location with a ribbon cutting and open house Friday at 4:30 PM at 1239 20th Street South.

The Jack 15 Road Race, the oldest road race in the Midwest at 63 years, runs its 64th edition Saturday morning, starting from White at 8:30 AM and finishing at the Campanile in Brookings. The Brookings Farmers Market opens Saturday from 9:00 to 11:00 AM on the 300 block of 6th Avenue. Kart racing returns at University Plains Speedway Saturday at 3:00 PM for the Lowell Wulff Memorial and Season Championship Night. McCrory Gardens hosts Party on the Porch Sunday at 1:00 PM with free admission, live music, and refreshments (bring your own seating). Good Roots Farm and Gardens serves wood-fired pizza Sundays from 4:30 to 7:30 PM by pre-order.

On the athletic front, SDSU volleyball plays Washington on Friday at 4:00 PM and #13 Minnesota on Saturday at 2:30 PM, both at Sioux Falls' Sanford Pentagon. The Jackrabbits football team hosts Youngstown State at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium on Saturday at 6:00 PM.