SCBHS Foundations’ Emerald Eve set for Nov. 4

The Swift County-Benson Hospital Foundation’s Emerald Eve celebration is back this fall after the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled the event in both 2020 and 2021.
Set for Friday, Nov. 4, at McKinney’s in Benson, Emerald Eve will be celebrating three things, Foundation Chair Jerry Peterson said. 
It will celebrate the everyone being together again after two years of disruption due to the pandemic, he said. It will celebrate the frontline workers at the Swift County-Benson Health Services clinic and hospital. During the pandemic, staff at SCBHS provided care for people of the community during a very challenging and stressful time.
Finally, it will be celebrating its new operating agreement with CentraCare and CURA of Benson.
In late September, Swift County and the City of Benson both approved 30-year term agreements between Swift County-Benson Health Services, CentraCare Health System, and Cura of Benson, LLC.
September 15, the CentraCare board approved the full affiliation and lease agreement. Cura also approved its lease agreement for leasing and managing Scandi Haven Village with its senior living, assisted living, and memory care operations. 
CentraCare, which has been running SCBHS the past three years through a management agreement, will take over complete operations of the hospital and clinic as of Jan. 1. Cura assume operations of Scandi Haven at the same time.
All funds raised during Emerald Eve will be donated to enhance the service people in the community get at SCBHS, Peterson said.
Emerald Eve will start with a social hour starting at 5:30 p.m. and with the dinner starting at 6:30 p.m. There will be live and silent auctions. Entertainment will be provided by The Cheesebots.
The Cheese Bots’ trio includes Marty Sarlette on saxes, bongos,vocals; Lindy Pederson on guitar, banjo and vocals, and Jim LaRocque on guitar, bass, and vocals. Pederson grew up in Langhei Township in Pope County and Sarlette in Morris. The band plays classic top 40 songs, blues, and a little Jazz.
Tickets can be purchased from Jerry Peterson by calling 320-368-2864 or Peggy Bausman at 320-760-2430. They are also accepting donations for the foundation. Tickets can also be purchased at Do-Mats, Super Valu and Swift County-Benson Health Services.
For more on this story, subscribe to the Monitor-News and support community journalism.