This class is sure to spark interest in all youth who love to add a little science to their art. Students will learn circuits while creating light up paper cards, add conductive thread and LEDs to wearable items, and even create glow in the dark paintings.  All a little light to the gray days of winter and join us for Light it Up!

NOTE: Registration after March 22 will cost $75. Materials fee will remain $30.

AGE: 6 – 9 years

DATES: April 8 – May 20 (No class April 22)

TIME: Mondays, 3:15 pm – 5:00 pm

INSTRUCTOR: Jane Busch

COST: $65+ $30 materials fee

LOCATION: ArtHaus Studio

Taekwondo is a fun family activity and great for students of all ages! Students will improve their coordination, balance, strength and agility, memory, and flexibility. Training includes training in bully prevention, advanced self-defense, use of nunchuk, board breaks, and other advanced concepts. Classes are held at 4Kicks Family Taekwondo, 308 College Drive in Decorah (next to Subway).

Classes are offered every Monday night 5:00-6:00 and Tuesday night 4:30-5:30.  Students may participate on one or both nights each week.  Cost is $45 (same price to participate one or both nights).  Family rate: $90.

Classes are taught by Patricia Young, a 3rd degree Black Belt and Nationally Certified Instructor of the American Taekwondo Association with over 20 years of instruction experience.

To register, email MsYoung1434@hotmail.com with the names and ages of all participants.

Taekwondo is a fun family activity and great for students of all ages! Students will improve their coordination, balance, strength and agility, memory, and flexibility. Students aged 8 and older all train together, with everyone being challenged – Great for families!  Training includes training in bully prevention, advanced self-defense, use of nunchuk, board breaks, and other advanced concepts. Classes are held at 4Kicks Family Taekwondo, 308 College Drive in Decorah (next to Subway).

Classes are offered every Monday and Tuesday night 6:00-7:00.  Students may participate on one or both nights each week.  Cost is $65 (same price to participate one or both nights).  Family rate: $130.

Classes are taught by Patricia Young, a 3rd degree Black Belt and Nationally Certified Instructor of the American Taekwondo Association with over 20 years of instruction experience.

To register, email MsYoung1434@hotmail.com with the names and ages of all participants.

7:00-8:15 p.m. at the Methodist Church, 302 W Broadway St, Decorah, IA

We are a meditation practice and study group that gathers each week for a variety of meditation teaching videos/readings, group discussion, and guided and silent meditations. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to come and go weekly as fits your schedule. (There is no requirement to attend every week.)

We generally use curriculum from Tergar, an international meditation community dedicated to making the practice of meditation accessible to the modern world. We sometimes add in teachings from other meditation teachers connected to Tergar. The meditation and study is based on Buddhist teachings, but is presented in a secular manner and suitable for people of all faiths, as well as both beginning and experienced meditators.

We have relatively comfortable chairs for our meditation, but you are always welcome to bring a cushion or mat or anything you’d find more comfortable, and there will be space to sit on the floor if you wish.

The group is volunteer led. We are grateful for the use of the space at the Methodist Church. Please bring a couple dollars donation for the church if possible, but it’s not necessary.

Together we are learning the essentials of meditation. It’s easier than you think!

In meditation we explore the landscape of the heart and mind with awareness. What we discover is a true and lasting happiness that does not depend on the outer conditions of our lives. With this relaxed, spacious approach to meditation, we learn to use every experience in life as an opportunity to awaken.

Contact us for more information:
Becky Idstrom 563-379 9446 and beckyidstrom@gmail.com
Alicia Trout 563-419-7610 and alicia.jw.trout@gmail.com

Taekwondo is a fun family activity and great for students of all ages! Students will improve their coordination, balance, strength and agility, memory, and flexibility. Training includes training in bully prevention, advanced self-defense, use of nunchuk, board breaks, and other advanced concepts. Classes are held at 4Kicks Family Taekwondo, 308 College Drive in Decorah (next to Subway).

Classes are offered every Monday 5:00-6:00 and Tuesday night 4:30-5:30.  Students may participate on one or both nights each week.  Cost is $45 (same price to participate one or both nights).  Family rate: $90.

Classes are taught by Patricia Young, a 3rd degree Black Belt and Nationally Certified Instructor of the American Taekwondo Association with over 20 years of instruction experience.

To register, email MsYoung1434@hotmail.com with the names and ages of all participants.

Taekwondo is a fun family activity and great for students of all ages! Students will improve their coordination, balance, strength and agility, memory, and flexibility. Students aged 8 and older all train together, with everyone being challenged – Great for families!  Training includes training in bully prevention, advanced self-defense, use of nunchuk, board breaks, and other advanced concepts. Classes are held at 4Kicks Family Taekwondo, 308 College Drive in Decorah (next to Subway).

Classes are offered every Monday and Tuesday night 6:00-7:00.  Students may participate on one or both nights each week.  Cost is $65 (same price to participate one or both nights).  Family rate: $130.

Classes are taught by Patricia Young, a 3rd degree Black Belt and Nationally Certified Instructor of the American Taekwondo Association with over 20 years of instruction experience.

To register, email MsYoung1434@hotmail.com with the names and ages of all participants.

A great way for kids to begin their Wednesday mornings! This series is geared toward k-2nd grade students, and is a collaborative effort between Green Iowa AmeriCorps and the Oneota Community Food Co-op. Children will gather for a snack and environmental story time, accompanied by discussion and activities to get the day started right. Green Iowa will provide a walking school bus to John Cline Elementary following class.

Lead by Gracie Engle and the Green Iowa AmeriCorps team, this is a FREE class series and is limited to 20 students. Call 563-382-4666, or register online at http://oneotacoop.com/education-events/ to reserve your seat.

Concerned about the basics of transferring family, farm or business assets, updating will or trust documents, powers of attorney and health care directives?

Is your family having the conversations and taking the steps necessary to assure future plans for the land?

Melissa O’Rourke, Attorney and Farm & Agribusiness Management Specialist for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will present on these and related topics at a Women Caring for the Land program set for next Wednesday, May 29 at the Winneshiek Wildberry Winery at 1966 – 337^th Street north of Decorah.

Doors open at 9:30 a.m.  There is no charge for the program other than the cost of lunch at $10.

O’Rourke notes that, “The most recent Iowa Farmland Ownership and Tenure Survey (2017) shows that forty-seven percent (47%) of farmland is owned by women.”

“Thirteen percent (13%) of farmland is owned by female landowners over the age of 80,” adds O’Rourke.  “That’s why it’s important for women landowners and producers to have opportunities to learn and discuss these topics.”

In addition to farmland estate and succession basics, O’Rourke will also share resources and highlights of the just-released 2019 ISU Cash Rent Survey and related information on farmland leasing decisions, including land stewardship and conservation resources.

O’Rourke will present from 10 a.m. to 12 Noon, with lunch available at that time.

After lunch, Matt Frana, Project Coordinator for the Upper Iowa River Watershed (UIRW) will speak on his work related to soil conservation strategies and available grants.  In his work, Frana works with the UIRW to facilitate watershed planning activities, manage the implementation of flood resiliency conservation projects, and share information with the public across the watershed to ensure the program’s effectiveness.

The program will conclude at 2 p.m.

Women Caring for the Land is a program associated with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) that serves women farmland owners and producers who are interest in learning more about land conservation and management.

Pre-registration for the program is needed to plan for seating, materials and lunch.  Call local coordinator Carol Dowe at 563-735-5688 or email caroldowe@gmail.com.

# # #

Welcome! to Women Caring for the Land

  A great time to get together with other farm ladies and owners! Did you know over 50%

of farm land is owned by women? Come and learn and have fun!

Speaker is: Melissa O’Rourke, Attorney from the

Extension office speaking on: Farm estate and transition planning, as well as farmland leasing and ownership.  Nice lunch available.  Also Matt Frana, upper Iowa Project Manager will speak on Soil Conservation and grants available.    Call

Carol Dowe at 563-735-5688 or write

caroldowe@gmail.com  to reserve.

Co-Dependents Anonymous (CoDA) is a fellowship of people whose common purpose is to develop healthy relationships. The only requirement for attending our meetings is a desire for healthy and loving relationships – with others, and with ourselves.

Not sure if you might be co-dependent? Some patterns are:

– thinking we can take care of ourselves without any help;

– difficulty making decisions, or second-guessing the decisions we made;

– believing we are unworthy;

– trouble setting boundaries – yet feeling resentful when others overstep those unstated boundaries;

– fear expressing our own opinions;

– offering advice or help without being asked;

– losing rest – or even sleep – worrying or obsessing about others and their problems;

– harshly judging ourselves and others… The list of patterns goes on.

We invite you to explore LIVING life rather than merely getting through life. There is hope for a new day with CoDA! It is suggested that newcomers try six basic meetings before deciding if CoDA is right for them.

We meet Wednesdays from 1-2pm at the Lingonberry, enter at 218 W Water Street. All attendees are always anonymous. Who attends and what is said stays absolutely confidential.

We have the Legos… bring your creativity!

Each week we’ll have a different theme. All finished builds will be displayed.

Children in 1st through 4th grades. Limited space available – Preregistration is required at:

https://www.decorah.lib.ia.us/event-directory/curious-kids-lego-challenge

Come to the Courtyard and Cellar on Wednesday Nights, bring your records to share and discover new music with your fellow audiophiles!

Join us for a fun, interactive story time featuring books, rhymes, music, and crafts.

For children ages 3 to 6, and their favorite adult. No registration necessary.

Postcards for Change will be at the Lingoberry in Decorah, Iowa! This event will let you write postcards to Iowa legislators to thank them for what they have done or to tell them what they need to do to keep Iowa amazing! Hope to see you there. 

Winneshiek County Conservation will be hosting a rain barrel workshop on Thursday, May 30 at 5:30 pm at Lake Meyer Campground.

Participants in this hands-on workshop will construct their own 55-gallon rain barrel. All materials and tools will be provided, as will information on how to collect and use runoff rain water.

A $20 materials fee per barrel is due at the time of the workshop. Only a limited number of barrels are available and registration is required by Tuesday, May 28 by calling (563) 534-7145.

The workshop will involve the use of power tools. Anyone under the age of 15 must be accompanied by an adult. Participants should be able to transport their barrel home after the workshop.

For more information, call (563) 534-7145.

This month’s Soup and Learn will host Decorah City Council Woman, Johanna Bergan. Johanna will give her take on becoming a new council member, what the learning curve has been for her, and what issues she has taken action on so far. Q&A to follow.

Come at 5:30 to enjoy a simple soup and bread in community. Program will begin at 6:00 PM, Suggested donation – $5.00.

This informal gathering is open to all.

In the final installment of our 4-part series, Dr. Julie Hayek will go over digestion and bowel movements. Learn what to watch for and ways to assist in achieving optimal health. Consecutive classes will build upon previous lessons to provide practical information for ready use, but feel free to join us even if you missed our previous class. There is plenty to be learned from each class individually if you can’t attend them all!

This is a lecture and hands-on class that is limited to 20 participants. Cost is $10 for Co-op Member/Owners, $12 for community members. Call 563-382-4666, or register online at http://oneotacoop.com/education-events/ to reserve your seat.

I will be teaching a 4 week Intro to Yoga class on Thursdays
in May, from 7:30-8:30 pm.  It runs May 9, 16, 23, 30.  It’s at the Yoga
Room in Decorah.  $49 for 4 weeks!  All mats and props are at the
studio, so you just need bare feet to join!

Iyengar yoga is accessible for anyone!  With the use of props,
people of all ages and abilities can do yoga.  Yoga can strengthen,
stretch and invigorate the body, calm and refresh the mind; it offers
relaxation, and is just a great way to take an hour for yourself. 

“Yoga is a light, which once lit, will never dim.  The better your practice, the brighter the flame.”  _BKS Iyengar

About Hallie:  Last June I started teacher trainings toward certification as an
Iyengar yoga teacher.  It’s a long process with a lot of things to
study, only one of which is actual yoga teaching!  It’s been an exciting
journey so far!  I’ve been subbing at the Yoga room,
and since Feb. have been teaching a class on Tues nights in Spring Grove
in conjunction with Root River Yoga. 

To register, email Molly at The Yoga Room:  molly@decorahyogaroom.com

Thanks for your consideration, and Happy Spring!  🙂  Hallie

Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging Hosting FREE Walks in Honor of Older Americans Month – Register by May 10 to be guaranteed a T-shirt!

Back by popular demand!  Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging is bringing back our walks!  Our Aging, Active and Alive Walks will be held during Older Americans Month to celebrate the strength and vitality of older Americans and to emphasize the importance of being active. We are also honored to announce that these walks have been endorsed by the Healthiest State Initiative!

This year’s walks will be held on May 31 at 20 locations throughout our 18 county region in Northeast Iowa. Walks will be held in in the following locations and times:

• Decorah – 10:30 a.m. at Trout Run Park
• Bellevue – 10:00 a.m. at Felderman Park
• Cedar Falls – 12:00 noon at Cedar Falls Community Center
• Cresco – 10:30 a.m. at Cresco Fitness Center
• Dubuque – 10:00 a.m. at Eagle Point Place
• Eldora- 8:30 a.m. at Dorothy’s Senior Center
• Elkader – 10:30 a.m. at Founders Park
• Greene – 1:00 p.m. at Perrin Park
• Grinnell – 10:00 a.m. at Ahrens Park
• Grundy Center – 10:00 a.m. at Old Upper Elementary
• Independence – 10:00 a.m. at Buchanan County Health Center Wellness and Therapy
• Iowa Falls – 10:00 a.m. at Estes Park
• Manchester – 2:00 p.m. at Whitewater Park
• Marshalltown – 10:00 a.m. at South Sixth Street Softball Complex
• New Hampton- 10:30 a.m. at Mikkelson Park
• Toledo – 10:00 a.m. at Toledo Heights Park
• Waterloo – 10:00 a.m. at Young Arena
• Waukon – 10:30 a.m. at Waukon Wellness Center
• Waverly – 1:00 p.m. at Wartburg College
• West Union – 10:30 a.m. at West Union Rec Center

The walks are FREE and people of all ages are encouraged to participate. Register by May 10 to guarantee a t-shirt! If there is inclement weather there will still be an activity scheduled at that date and time. To register visit https://tinyurl.com/AgingActiveAliveWalk or call Vicki Hyke at 319-874-6847 or Janet Buls at 319-231-1551.

If you would like to be a sponsor, contact Lisa Wetzel at 319-874-6879 or email lwetzel@nei3a.org.

Join the Oneota Film Festival and Green Iowa AmeriCorps on May 31st for a screening of Chasing Coral to kick off festivities for World Oceans Day on June 8th. This event will be held at the Elks Lodge in Decorah.  After the showing there will be resources about sustainable fishing practices, updates on the health of corals, ideas for creative ways to recycle and other ways we can help our oceans. We hope to see you there!

Fire Farm lighting company in Elkader, Iowa employs many local artists and sculptors to bring form to materials and light to spaces. For this show artists are all working with the same strips of acrylic. Teams of two Thermoform a sculpture of their liking collaboratively around a light source. Then one of the team moves on and another staff member partners with the remaining staff to make the next one. Approximately 12 unique floor standing sculptures will fill the ArtHaus gallery.

The opening reception will take place in the gallery on May 31 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm. This is a free event! The show will continue to be on view daily on weekdays starting, June 3 @ 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm (Closes June 28). For more information, visit https://arthausdecorah.org/events/!

Sponsored by Inspire(d) Media.

Decorah Parks and Recreation is partnering with local yoga instructors to offer free yoga in the park!

Join Laree Schouweiler with Reefuel 10-11am on June 1st for a wonderful free yoga class. Bring a yoga mat or towel and join us in the green space west of John Cline Elementary School. No previous experience necessary and no need to register, just show up.

This program is sponsored by Gundersen Health Clinic and Winneshiek Medical Center.

Kick off the summer with a high-energy family show featuring storytelling, juggling, & unicycling. Take part in juggling lessons and play with super-cool skill toys after the program!

This show is free to the public, but preregistration is required at:

https://www.decorah.lib.ia.us/event-directory/hanson-family-show

Root to Rise Community Yoga is an all-levels alignment based
class that cultivates connection, curiosity, and balance.  Join us for a practice that allows you to
pause, breathe, and move with intention. 
You can expect variations, repetition, and guidance towards a peak pose
to both meet you where you are at and help you play the line of growth.  When you are deeply rooted you are able to
expand out into your life with renewed energy and vitality.

We carry inside us the wonders we seek outside us.  –Rumi

Celebrate the opening of the new exhibit Tattoo: Identity Through Ink with live tattooing in the gallery by award-winning tattoo artist Brock Swenson and exclusive Valkyrie Strike IPA from Toppling Goliath Brewery for sale on tap and in bottles!

The exhibit tells the story of tattoos and the people who have them. Of course there is a Scandinavian connection–with celebrated artists like Norwegian Johan Frederik Knudsen and Norwegian-American Amund Dietzel, the question of whether or not Vikings had tattoos, and the rise of a whole modern Neo-Nordic style of tattooing. But the exhibit also looks more deeply at the traditions of body ornamentation in other cultures and connections to them.

The guest curator is Lars Krutak, a Research Associate at the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe, New Mexico, is a scholar of body art and has authored four books on the subject of Indigenous body modification. The exhibit is sponsored by Nick and Courtney Rowley with community partners Toppling Goliath Brewing Co. and Brock’s Valhalla Tattoo.

Seven professional performers and musicians from across the country will come together for seven days to create seven devised works for two stagings of innovative, inspiring and thought-provoking performances at the historic St. Mane Theatre in Lanesboro, MN on Saturday, June 1 and Sunday, June 2 at 7:30 p.m.

Inspired by the collaborative and experimental work done by theater companies such as the Rude Mechs, the Neo-Futurists, and the Saratoga International Theater Institute, Audacious Raw Theater (A.R.T.) was conceived by Lanesboro-based performing artist Catherine Glynn as a multi-year initiative to foster the creation and development of new works. The theme for year three is “Inside, Outside, Upside Down.” Jerome Yorke who has been a part of A.R.T. since its inception chose the theme, “because of its seemingly inexhaustible potential, and the ability to flip norms on their heads.” As Austrian physicist Erwin Schrödinger, who worked on the physical nature of unified field theory, has said, “The task is…not so much to see what no one has yet seen; but to think what nobody has yet thought, about that which everybody sees.”

The artists include Jerome Yorke, Jr. a devised theater-maker and clown from Cincinnati; Hilary Williams a Chicago–based actress, writer and educator; Laura Gentry an artist and laughter ambassador from Marquette, Iowa; J Pankaj Jha an actor, activist and storyteller originally from India; Aurelia Clunie an Evanston, Illinois–based actress, director and teaching artist; Paula Ramirez an activist, actor, improviser and educator originally from Venezuela; Lewis Youngren an actor, director and educator originally from Hastings, MN; and Catherine Glynn, who divides her time between performing and producing theater and executive coaching at Fortune 500 companies around the world.

Prepare to be surprised and delighted by 7, or more, newly devised works of Audacious Raw Theater, while also gaining insight into the creative process and embracing the spontaneous. Together the group will be revising and recreating throughout their time in Lanesboro. Audiences are encouraged to come for both stagings as each performance are unique and will never be repeated again! Year three of Audacious Raw Theater is happening in conjunction with the annual Rhubarb Festival in Sylvan Park from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 1. All ages are welcome & encouraged.

This Des Moines trio is a rock & blues band whose sound is classic & driving, yet undeniably fresh. A show brings the feel of ZZ Top, CCR, & Link Wray, to name a few, but no two shows are alike. Their 3rd album releases summer 2019. Catch them on 100.5 FM’s Artist Direct and LIVE @ The HMKT! $5 cover.

Co-Dependents Anonymous (CoDA) is a fellowship of people whose common purpose is to develop healthy relationships. The only requirement for attending our meetings is a desire for healthy and loving relationships – with ourselves and with others.

Not sure if you are co-dependent? Some patterns are:

– using indirect communication, such as hinting, to try to head off conflict (real or imagined);

– becoming resentful when our advice, help, or gifts are declined or unappreciated;

– not expressing our own feelings, beliefs, or opinions when they differ from others;

– have difficulty admitting a mistake, or re-hashing old mistakes over and over;

– perfectionism;

– perceiving ourselves as totally unselfish and dedicated to the well-being of others, and wishing others could see how much we do for them…

The list of patterns goes on.

We invite you to explore what it is like to LIVE life rather than to merely survive life. There is hope for a new day with CoDA! It is suggested that newcomers try six basic meetings before deciding if CoDA is right for them.

We also have an in-depth discussion on Sundays from 4:00-4:30pm to which anyone is welcome. (The basic meeting starts immediately afterwards, and both occur at NE Iowa Peace & Justice Center, 119 Winnebago Street.)

All attendees are anonymous. Who attends and what is said stays absolutely confidential.

Director Jennaya Robison welcomes you to the Luther College Gospel Choir , a choir focused on bringing peace, justice, and joy through music.  We rehearse Sundays from 5-6pm whenever Luther is in session, in the Choir Room at the Jenson-Noble Hall of Music.  Come whenever you can–there is no registration, no obligation, and no experience necessary. The group is open to ALL singers high school through adult (including staff, faculty, community members.)  There will be some performance opportunities, but singers don’t need to feel obligated to attend performances that don’t fit in their schedules.

The Winneshiek Medical Center Auxiliary is holding a $6 Accessory
and Gift Sale on Monday, June 3 from 7:30am – 4pm in the lower level WMC
conference rooms. All pieces are new and include jewelry, watches, scarves,
hand bags, purses, wallets and a vast array of other accessories, gifts and
seasonal items.

Proceeds from all Auxiliary fund raisers, including profits
from the WMC Gift Shop, benefit Winneshiek Medical Center by supporting program
and equipment needs, as well as the Auxiliary Health Care Career
Scholarship.

To learn more about Auxiliary events, contact the Winneshiek
Medical Center Volunteer Services department at 563-387-3036. 

Join JOan for lively stories, songs, and finger plays in the Public Program Room of the library. Then stay and play for an additional 1/2 hour. Toys courtesy of Friends of Decorah Public Library.

Children 18 months to 3 years of age with an adult caregiver. No registration necessary.

Master’s Touch and Dragonfly Books are pleased to host Luther College graduate Ann Bolson with her new book A Year of Hope: 52 Weeks of Faith and Courage. A collection of Sunday morning messages, A Year of Hope looks to the wisdom of scripture to accompany spiritual journeys. Ann Bolson will be signing copies of her book and chatting one-on-one with visitors on Monday, June 3 between 4:30 – 6:00 PM at Master’s Touch.

This event is hosted by Master’s Touch, 104 W. Water St., Decorah, and sponsored Dragonfly Books. The event is free and open to the public.

Be Bold. Train for an In-Demand Career.

In two months or less, the average salary of CDL graduates is $32,700!

Register to attend one of the free Information Sessions to learn more about Class A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) or Semi-Truck Driving:

Tuesday, June 4 | 6 p.m.
Northeast Iowa Community College
Calmar Campus: 1625 Hwy 150 S., Wilder Business Center

During the session you will receive information on:

short training programs
if you qualify for free training
employers ready to hire our graduates
Don’t wait. Seats are Limited.

Bill Moellering, retired Fayette County Engineer of 40 years, will speak on the “Dietzenbach Bottom Bridge” and 3 other historic wrought iron bridges in the area.

The DPL Happy Hour Book Club​ will meet at RUBAIYAT​ on Wed. June 5th at 5:15 p.m. to discuss Caroline Van Hemert’s “The Sun Is a Compass: A 4,000-Mile Journey into the Alaskan Wilds.” Multiple copies available at the library.

During graduate school, ornithologist Caroline Van Hemert began to feel stifled in the sterile environment of the lab. Worried that she was losing her passion for the scientific research she once loved, she and her husband set off in March of 2012 on a 4,000-mile journey from the Pacific rainforest to the Alaskan Arctic, traveling by rowboat, ski, foot, raft, and canoe.

For more information, contact Carmen
Buss (Friday Book Group) or Kristin Torresdal (Happy Hour and History Book
Groups) at 563-382-3717. Carmen can also be reached at cbuss@decorah.lib.ia.us. 

Plants grow everywhere, and in June they’re lush! Spring plants haven’t totally left us yet so it’s a great time to do an herb walk in the woods. How many woodland plants do you know? Come and learn some new faces and the medicinal benefits they give. Every time Bonnie does an herb walk, she likes to take us to different locations. We recommend participants bring a pen and notebook or device for taking notes as we walk, insect repellent and weather appropriate clothing, and a camera for snapping photos for plant identification. We will meet at the Co-op Kitchen Classroom and caravan or carpool to the class site from there.

Lead by Clinical Herbalist, Bonnie Kreckow, this is a field trip style class that requires participants be able to walk and stand for the duration of class. Cost is $15 for Co-op Member/Owners, $18 for community members. Call 563-382-4666, or register online at http://oneotacoop.com/education-events/ to reserve your place.

Everyone is welcome to the Free Community Meal to be served on June 6 from 5:00 pm until 6:15 pm at Decorah Lutheran Church, 309 W. Winnebago.

Sodexo at Luther College will furnish the main dish and salads and desserts will be provided by volunteers from Decorah Lutheran Church. A vegetarian option will be available.

Summer schedule:

The next Community Meal will occur on August 1.  There will be no meal in July because of the 4th of July holiday. The regular schedule will resume in September with meals served on the first and third Thursdays of the month at Decorah Lutheran Church.

Mounting mini collages onto cards is an easy way to create special occasion greetings that are unique and elegant. The class will cover some simple ways to enhance papers to be used in collages as well as some tips about card-making. Students will go home with several one of a kind cards.

• AGE: Everyone
• DATE: Friday, June 7
• TIME: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
• INSTRUCTOR: Frances Garst-Kittleson
• COST: $35
• LOCATION: ArtHaus Studio

Come join the group as we continue to explore back-pain free, time saving, and self empowering meditation for the whole family. Get comfy and drop any expectations – curiosity is the most important attitude that will reveal your personal meditation style. My daily practice, The Alexander Technique, and Life Coaching tools have given me insights into how much meditation can bring calm and lightheartedness back into my life. Join me for a low key evening of exploration and mindfulness.

Lead by Andrea Miller, this is an active lecture-style class with a limit of 24 participants. Cost is $10 for Co-op Members, $12 for community members. Call 563-382-4666, or register online at http://oneotacoop.com/education-events/ to reserve your seat.

Winneshiek County Conservation will be hosting the Stan Shevik Family Fishing Clinic on Saturday, June 8, 2019 at Lake Meyer Park.

The free clinic is open to all ages and is a great opportunity to introduce new anglers to fishing. Sessions will include fish identification with live fish, casting practice, fish art, and more. All registered youth will be eligible for door prizes.

Sign-in will begin at 8:30 am and clinic sessions will run from 9:00-11:00. Door prize drawings for youth and lunch for the whole family will follow the clinic. Fishing poles and assistance from Winneshiek County Conservation staff will be available for family fishing from approximately 12:00 to 1:00.

Pre-registration is required by Monday, June 3 and is available online at www.winneshiekwild.com.

Youth under 7 must be accompanied by an adult throughout the clinic.

The clinic is being held in memory and honor of Stan Shevik, formerly of Spillville, and his lifelong passion for fishing and love of Lake Meyer.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is also assisting with the event.

June 7-9 is Iowa Free Fishing Weekend, when no fishing license is required for Iowa residents.

Lake Meyer Park is located off of Highway 24 between Calmar and Fort Atkinson. For more information, call (563) 534-7145.

Join the Winneshiek Energy District and Local Partners for the second annual Electric Vehicle Fest(EV)al.

Meet the cars and the owners. Learn why your next car should be an electric one!

This event is free and appropriate for all ages.

Find more information at energydistrict.org/events/festeval/

Have you ever wanted to weld your own sculptures but have no clue where to start, or what equipment is needed? Here’s your chance! Using mig welders and grinders, you will learn how to create your own garden decorations. Nationally-recognized metal artist Kelly Ludeking will take you step-by-step through the process. Everyone, from the complete novice to an experienced metal worker, will enjoy this opportunity to try their hands at this rewarding craft. Kelly will also provide a variety of different sized metal rods, tubes, and solid stock. Everyone will leave with a piece of art they created and the knowledge of equipment needed and skills learned to continue creating.

June 8-9, 2019 with instructor Kelly Ludeking

Youth ages 15-17 receive a 25% discount with participating adult.  A 50% discount is available (on a standby basis) for Winneshiek County residents. 

Decorah Parks and Recreation is partnering with local yoga instructors to offer free yoga in the park!

Join Odette Bruneau with Yoga Room & Discover Happy 10-11am on June 8th for a wonderful free yoga class. Bring a yoga mat or towel and join us in the green space west of John Cline Elementary School. No previous experience necessary and no need to register, just show up.

This program is sponsored by Gundersen Health Clinic and Winneshiek Medical Center.

Come mix and mingle with Presidential Candidates, our First District Congresswoman, Abby Finkenauer, legislators and activists from around Iowa’s First Congressional District, eat some great local food, participate in silent auctions, buy a raffle ticket or two, and have some Summer Fun!
This venue is ADA Compliant and functionally accessible. ASL and CART will be provided.

Saturday, June 8, 2019, at 4 PM – 8 PM

McAllister Heritage Event Center

229 3rd Ave West
Cresco, Iowa 52136

Doors open at 3:00.

Hosted by Iowa 1st District Democrats

Host Counties: Allamakee, Howard, Mitchell, Winneshiek, and Worth

To purchase tickets online go here: https://www.idp1st.org/passport-to-victory/
To purchase tickets locally contact Nathan Thompson winndemschairia@gmail.com

REGISTRATION CLOSING SOON!!

Pssst….Hey you! Yes, YOU!!! Just your friendly Montessori neighbor in downtown Decorah…..Wow, that close? Yes!

If you haven’t finalized summer plans for your kiddos yet, don’t forget about Northeast Iowa Montessori (NEIM)!! We have 10 weeks of fun-in-the-sun (and shade) Summer Camp options!! We still have some spots open and would love for your kids to join our kids! Choose from any -or all- of our weekly themed weeks. Includes ArtHaus trips, library trips and other fun bus and walking field trips! Ages 3-7. Check out the brochure and let us know if you have any questions. Can’t wait to hear from you!

Facebook:  NEIM Summer Day Camp  

NEIM website: www.neim.us/programs/summer    

Email us: neimsummercamp@gmail.com 

Calling all builders! Preschool and kindergarten aged children are invited to join us in the Public Program Room of the Library to build, create, and play.

For children 3 – 5 years of age. No registration necessary.

We have the Legos. You bring the imaginations! Join us for open play in the Public Program Room of the library.

For children 6 – 9 years of age. No registration necessary.

Brianne Huiskamp made a lifelong dream come true in 2017 by joining the downtown business community in Decorah. She opened Broker Leather [boot boutique & leather goods] to provide a selection of quality boots and leather goods that are unique and trendy, well-made, and functional. At Broker Leather, Brianne & her herd demonstrate the Midwestern values of loyalty and hard work. While providing elite customer service, they encourage their customers to live by their motto: “Only Look Down To Admire Your Boots.”

Join us Thursday, June 13th, as Brianne shares stories from her journey as a small business owner in Decorah.

The Young Professionals group gathers monthly to hear community and business leaders share stories about the leadership journey.

We welcome all backgrounds, ages, and industries to join us in building connections between area professionals and local leaders.

A little for you and a little for them. Homemade, organic food items are a beautiful gift to make, give, receive, and enjoy. Join Joel and Johanna in a demo+ workshop. (That means we show you the ropes and then you get in a little practice). Tonight, we’ll mix up some of our favorite condiments including stoneground mustard, Cajun spice rub, carrot ginger salad dressing, and homemade mayo. The recipes are a mixture of make-and-store recipes that are perfect for gift giving and make-and-eat which are perfect for dinner at home. Extra recipes will be shared to inspire your continued culinary gifting and sharing at home. Everyone will leave class with something to take home and enjoy.

Lead by dynamic duo, Joel Zook and Johanna Bergan, this is a demonstration and hands-on class which is gluten-free and vegan friendly, with a limit of 16 participants. Cost is $15 for Co-op Members, $18 for community members. Call 563-382-4666, or register online at http://oneotacoop.com/education-events/ to reserve your seat.

Dragonfly Books welcomes Luther College graduate Heidi Barr for an author talk featuring her new Little Bound Book What Comes Next: Between Beauty and Destruction. In What Comes Next, Barr examines the emotions and everyday challenges that come with job loss. Barr will share her stories, talk about her book, and sign books on Friday, June 14 at 7:00 PM at Dragonfly Books.

This event is sponsored by Dragonfly Books at 112 W. Water St., Decorah and is free and open to the public. To learn more about this and other events at Dragonfly Books, please visit www.dragonflybooks.com, or contact us at events@dragonflybooks.com or 563-382-4275.

DATE: Friday, June 14

TIME: 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm

COST: $10 in advance, $15 at the door

LOCATION: ArtHaus Studio Courtyard

The annual Art in the Park fine art festival celebrates its 39th year on Saturday, June 15, 2019, in Lanesboro’s Sylvan Park with 90-plus fine art & craft booths, community food vendors, family art activities and live music. Renowned for quality, variety and value, Art in the Park attracts thousands of regional patrons to Sylvan Park each year.

The focal point of Art in the Park is of course the art! Fine art and fine craft artist booths encircle Sylvan Park underneath canopies of shade, featuring a wide variety of artist-made work by over 90 artists from the tri-state region. There will be paintings, photography, fine jewelry, textile rugs & quilts, hand thrown ceramics, stained glass, original paintings, blown & fused glass sculptures, artworks utilizing reclaimed wood, stoneware clay pottery, metalwork, woven baskets, yard art, and more.

Starting off the day at 10 a.m. is The Galactic Cowboy Orchestra, a unique Twin Cities based quartet that fuses the loud riffs & pop hooks of country-edged rock with the open-ended improvisation of jazz and world music. Prolific and energetic live performers, the group tours extensively and has performed at the Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival in North Carolina, the Minnesota State Fair and Riverbend Festival in Tennessee.

Taking the gazebo stage at 12:30 p.m. is Joyann Parker, a powerful blues-rock singer and multi-instrumentalist. Bravely risking emotional exposure, this Minneapolis- based musician shows a penchant for communicating a personal response to the ups and downs of life. Parker and her backing band work styles ranging from Chuck Berry and bluesy funk to French Quarter parades and Memphis soul approximations.

Jaedyn James & The Hunger, the final musical act of the day at 3:00 p.m., is an eight-piece funk and soul band from Minneapolis. Front woman Jaedyn James, is a young, high-energy, soulful belter who’s part Irma Thomas and Amy Winehouse. Sporting a formidable horn section and groovy back-up singers this ensemble blends vintage and modern sounds in a repertoire that includes both funk bangers and slow, sultry crooners.

Attendees will enjoy delicious and locally prepared foods at booths hosted by volunteers from local organizations. The Farmers Market will offer fresh food and healthy snack stands, and the Lanesboro Community Theater will sell ice-cold pop, lemonade, and water. Lanesboro Arts will also host the famous pie and ice cream booth, serving fresh pies including peach, cherry, blueberry, rhubarb, and apple (and coffee and ice cream to go with your slice of pie). Craft beer will be provided by Kinney Creek Brewery of Rochester, KARST Brewing of Fountain and Island City Brewery of Winona.

In honor of Father’s Day Weekend and to promote artistic creativity, Lanesboro Arts will host an art activity booth for kids and families of all ages with all supplies provided. A henna artist and face painter will have their own booth set-up. Additional exciting participatory arts experiences, Aerial Arts Fitness by Discover Happy, are also in the works! Sylvan Park contains a brand-new playground as well, and ponds on the north side of the park are known for good fishing.

For more on the event, including photos from past years and ways you can get involved, please click here.

Date: Saturday, June 15

Time: 10 am – 5 pm (1 hour break for lunch)

Instructor: Jane Busch

Register by May 18: $75 for 2 people

Register after May 18: $85 for 2 people

Location: ArtHaus Studio

Treat your dad to some quality time being creative with you.  Sons and daughters are welcome to register for a making session creating a cardboard pinball machine with their father, grandfather, or role model.  Each double registration comes with one pinball machine kit (with multiple interchangeable play boards).  Additional kits may be purchased for $60.  Intermediate difficulty, we recommend youth be 9 years or older.

Decorah Parks and Recreation is partnering with local yoga instructors to offer free yoga in the park!

Join Steve Hornbacher with “Yoga with Thea and Steve” 10-11am on June 15th for a wonderful free yoga class. Bring a yoga mat or towel and join us in the green space west of John Cline Elementary School. No previous experience necessary and no need to register, just show up.

This program is sponsored by Gundersen Health Clinic and Winneshiek Medical Center.

* Talking about being a Physic Medium

* Taking questions from the audience

* Doing readings from audience volunteers

**a reading is not guaranteed
during the show**

Get ready for a fantastic show when Harald Haugaard, from Denmark, and Antti Järvelä, from Finland, play at Vesterheim!

Haugaard and Järvelä are some of the most sought-after musicians of their generation and are known for their musical skill, lively performances, and great sense of humor.

Järvelä, who plays the mandolin and double bass, hails from the famous Järveläs of Kaustinen—Finland’s first family of folk music. Järvelä has played at Vesterheim with his cousin Arto Järvelä and with the band Baltic Crossing.

Haugaard’s artistic expression always draws on his deep roots in the rich Danish musical tradition. He has appeared on television and radio; has composed and produced music for theater, films, and concerts; and has won many awards and honors for his work.

In Vesterheim’s Bethania Church on Mill St. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. $15 per person at the door.

June 18th Midsommer/Saint Hans 

Norwegian Tales and Songs 

6:00 p.m. at McCaffrey’s Dolce Vita 

Celebrate Midsommer/Saint Hans eve with a picnic-style supper at McCaffrey’s Dolce Vita. This is located a mile west of Decorah out past Twin Springs Park, a lovely short drive in the country! The evening will include Norwegian tales and songs. Please reserve by emailing pchasvold4@msn.com or call 563-379-3916. Cost of $15 may be paid at the door.

AGE: Everyone

DATES: June 18-20

TIMES: Tuesday – Thursday, 6:30pm

COST: $15

LOCATION: ArtHaus Studio Courtyard

The St. Lucas Historical Society is pleased to invite you to learn what several heritage groups are doing to preserve and celebrate their cultural heritage, particularly with the younger generation. Our 4th Annual Workshop will be held on June 19, 2019 at the German American Museum in St. Lucas, Iowa.

We are inviting several groups to share their efforts in preserving and celebrating cultural heritage in the onslaught of today’s mass culture environment. The following have been invited to provide speakers and displays:

The Ho-chunk Nation Cultural Affairs Department, Black River Falls, Wisconsin
The Red Cloud Indian School Cultural Heritage Center and Museum, Pine Ridge, South Dakota
The Vesterheim Norwegian American Museum, Decorah, Iowa
The German American Heritage Center and Museum, Davenport, Iowa
The Swedish American Museum and Historical Society, Swedesburg, Iowa
The National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
The African American Museum of Iowa, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
The Czech Days Fest, Protivin, Iowa
The Czech Heritage Partnership, Protivin, Iowa
The Annual Nordic Festival, Decorah, Iowa
The Polish Cultural Institute and Museum, Winona, Minnesota
The Annual Irish Festival, Lawler, Iowa

“We are in the process of confirming speakers from these cultural heritage preservation groups and are asking other groups to participate,” states Clair Blong of the Workshop program committee. “Overall, this comparative approach to the role of cultural heritage in our lives may yield many interesting commonalities and as well as differences for cultural heritage preservation and sustainment in the 21st Century.”

You may ask, “Why participate in this Workshop?” The June 2018 Workshop drew 175 very curious persons to learn about the “Hidden in Plain Sight: The Native American Presence in NE Iowa,” states Joyce Moss, vice president of the Society. “The Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin sent two renowned speakers to keynote the morning and afternoon sessions of the Workshop. These keynoters and other speakers generated a tremendous amount of public interest and press visibility for Native American historical issues and contemporary challenges.”

This forthcoming Workshop on cultural heritage preservation and celebration may similarly generate a great deal of interest. Blong states, “We like to think of this Workshop as a ‘Chautaugua’ like experience; the adult education movement of the 19th and 20th centuries as a midsummer enlightening stimulus for the curious of mind in the tri-state area of the NE Iowa region. The Workshop is strongly supported by many highly motivated volunteers from NE Iowa and other states. They are the mainstay of the success of this event.”

You are invited to attend and participate in the Workshop. Early Registration is encouraged to allow for planning purposes.

To pre-register for the Workshop online, go to our website at “stlucasmuseum.org” and complete the registration form
To register by phone, call 534-778-2710 and leave your contact information: name, phone number, postal

The Workshop is supported by individual free-will donations that are needed to cover the cost of printed programs, lunch, refreshments and snacks, audio-visual recording, photography, public address equipment, and related conference room and speaker expenses.

For further information on the Society and its Newsletters, visit “stlucasmuseum.org”.

Shiny objects catch your eye? In this class you will learn the basic foundations of silversmithing. Bring your creativity and an aptitude to try new things. We will cover soldering, fabricating and hand-forming metal into a pendant with a gemstone. This class offers students an opportunity to learn all the techniques that will help them make other projects including rings, necklaces, earrings or simple metal objects. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn the basics or grow as a fledgling jeweler. All the tools will be provided to create your masterpiece. There is a materials fee of $65, payable to the instructor. In addition, sterling silver will be available for purchase at the time of the class.

June 19-20, 2019 with instructor Michael Seiler

A 50% discount is available (on a standby basis) for Winneshiek County residents. 

Let your imagination run wild! Stop by the Public Program Room of the Library to create, have fun, or try something new. The masterpiece you take home is entirely up to you!

For children 6 – 9 years of age. No registration necessary.

June Melby is hosting a monthly open mic, every 3rd Wednesday of the month. She invites people to bring in their poetry, or prose, or spoken word. Add it to the Word Salad. “Locally sourced. sometimes fresh.”

Unlike the poetry slam, prose or stories are welcome, and we might even get comedy. Three minutes per person. You can sign up at the door at 6:45, show at 7:00.

This event will include a segment of “found poetry.” This segment will invite people to read something, like the back of a cereal box, as a poem, appreciating the words of it even if it clearly was never intended to be a poem. So you could bring in a grocery list you find lying in the parking lot. A page of abandoned homework from the library wastebasket. Or instructions for assembling some plumbing. She encourages people to “keep their eye out” and bring in a random thing to this segment.

June Melby is the author of My Family and Other Hazards, a memoir about her family’s miniature golf course. As a performance poet, she has been seen at the Knitting Factory and CBGBs in New York, LA Hammer Museum in Los Angeles, and poetry slams in Munich, Hamburg, Amsterdam, and London.

Before and after the open mic, join us for vinyl night! Every Wednesday, bring your favorites and enjoy a few drink specials.

The History Book Group will discuss Patrick Radden Keefe’s “Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland” at 6:30 p.m. Thurs. June 20th on the 2nd floor of the library. Multiple copies available at the library.

In December 1972, Jean McConville, a thirty-eight-year-old mother of ten, was dragged from her Belfast home by masked intruders. Her abduction was one of the most notorious episodes of The Troubles. The violence affected not only people like McConville’s children, but also members of the Irish Republican Army embittered by a peace that fell far short of the goal of a united country. “Say Nothing” chronicles the conflict in Northern Ireland and its aftermath. 

For more information, contact Carmen
Buss (Friday Book Group) or Kristin Torresdal (Happy Hour and History Book
Groups) at 563-382-3717. Carmen can also be reached at cbuss@decorah.lib.ia.us. 

Do you like playing with fire? This course is for jewelers that have some skills but would like to take it to the next level. If you have felt like you are missing some of the vital information and techniques of silversmithing, this is for you. This class will give you a little more freedom to cultivate your designs and uses more advanced techniques to turn them into reality. This class will be structured to show you how to accomplish specific techniques and then allow you to practice your new techniques over three days. Once you have been instructed, it’s time to play with fire! We will cover advanced soldering techniques and build on what you already know. We will also focus on making bezels and prongs for gemstones and fabricating techniques for rings, earrings and pendants. Stone setting will also be covered in this class as well as forming sterling silver. All the tools will be provided to create your masterpiece. Students will be provided with an initial kit of materials at the start of class. There is a materials fee of $150, payable to the instructor. Additional sterling silver and gemstones will be available for purchase.

June 21-23, 2019 with instructor Michael Seiler

A 50% discount is available (on a standby basis) for Winneshiek County residents. 

The Friday Book Group will meet at 2:00 p.m. Fri. June 21st on the 2^nd
floor of the library to discuss Rachel Kadish’s “The Weight of Ink.” The library does not carry multiple copies.

Set in London of the 1660s and of the early twenty-first century, “The Weight of Ink” is the
interwoven tale of two women: Ester Velasquez, an emigrant from Amsterdam
who is permitted to scribe for a blind rabbi; and Helen Watt, an ailing
historian with a love of Jewis history. Helen is summoned by a former student
to view a cache of seventeenth-century Jewish documents newly discovered in his
home during a renovation. Enlisting the help of an American graduate student,
Helen embarks on one last project: to determine the identity of the documents’
scribe, the elusive “Aleph.” 

For more information, contact Carmen
Buss (Friday Book Group) or Kristin Torresdal (Happy Hour and History Book
Groups) at 563-382-3717. Carmen can also be reached at cbuss@decorah.lib.ia.us. 

Join us at the first annual Driftless Yoga Festival!

Attendees of the first annual Driftless Yoga Festival in Decorah will gather at multiple locations throughout the region for a weekend of yoga, cycling, local food and drink, and activities designed around yoga, connection, and movement.

The event kicks off on the Summer Solstice, Friday, June 21st, with yoga at Luna Valley Farm, followed by the option to stay on and enjoy wood-fired pizza and local craft brews. Participants will register and receive Sanga Bags filled with inspiration to explore area businesses. Saturday morning will begin with optional Sunrise Yoga and take attendees on a series of available experiences at locations throughout the community that include Reefuel, B. Fit Studio, Phelps Park, Malanaphy Springs, Oneota Food Co-op, The Healing Shack, and The Yoga Room. Sunday’s events will wrap up the action-packed weekend with a morning yoga class at Carl Selland Park and a Community Potluck at Pulpit Rock Brewing Company.

The Driftless Yoga Festival features notable Midwest practitioners including Molly Gallagher, and Dr. Libby Abbas of Decorah, Brent Aronsen of Des Moines, Moya Matthews of Minneapolis, and many more. The organizers hope this is just the first year of an annual event that could further cement Northeast Iowa as a rare Midwest destination teeming with both great natural beauty and endless opportunities to reset, relax, and recreate.

The event is sponsored by Reefuel, Luna Valley Farm, Inspired Media, Pulpit Rock Brewing Company, Letter Werks, and Still Life Creative.