The Friends of the Fort Dodge Library announce this spring’s installment of the Brown Bag Briefings. They are held every Thursday at noon beginning April 9 in the meeting room of the Fort Dodge Library. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own lunch. Water, coffee and cookies will be provided. The briefings last one hour and the public is invited to attend. There is no charge for admission.

April 9: Solar farms, wind energy — how does it work?

John Huff is the project outreach manager for all of MidAmerican Energy Company’s new electric generation projects, including wind, solar, and natural gas facilities. He will present about how MidAmerican has recently expanded its generation portfolio and share the company’s plans to continue emphasizing sustainable solutions, including utility-scale solar energy. Webster County is home to MidAmerican’s largest operational solar farm, Holiday Creek, and its newly repowered Lundgren Wind Farm.

April 16: Shop the Drag!

Reminisce about downtown Fort Dodge when it was in its heyday. Join Jeanine Nemitz and Lori Gascho, volunteers with the Webster County Historical Society, as they share photos, memories and items from former Central Avenue businesses.

April 23: How to Avoid Cybercrimes, Scams, and Fraud

The Fort Dodge Community Foundation in partnership with our local police and sheriff’s departments, First Interstate Bank, and First State Bank will make a presentation on how to avoid cybercrime, scams and fraud. Thousands of dollars have been stolen from innocent victims of cybercrime and scams from Fort Dodge area residents the past few years. The fraudsters and scammers are very clever and deceptive and with AI, the problem continues to get worse. Representatives from local law enforcement and bankers will educate participants on how to avoid being scammed and how to protect your money.

April 30: Life Serve — Blood Who Gives it, Who Gets it?

Lifeserve is a nonprofit community based blood center that supplies lifesaving blood products across Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Illinois. We work with local communities, schools and businesses and organizations to host blood drives and ensure patients have the blood they need for surgeries, cancer treatments, trauma care and chronic illnesses. Every donation helps save and improve lives right here in our communities.