Month: May 2023

DMS Students Sponsor Annual Water to Thrive Fundraiser

Seventh graders at Decorah Middle School are sponsoring their annual Water to Thrive fundraiser with a goal to reach $5,000 to support the building of a well in rural Africa. From May 8-12, all students at DMS can bring monetary donations of any amount to school. These donations can be made during students’ lunch shifts.

Orange donation buckets will be placed at businesses around town with QR codes explaining the reasons for the fundraiser. People can also donate by directly visiting https://www.watertothrive.org/campaigns/one-well-one-drop-5.

In class, DMS students learn how water can impact health, hunger, education, and poverty–creating inequalities. As a way to ‘be the change’ and address those inequalities, the students partner with Water to Thrive through which one well can be built for $5,000. That well can bring clean, safe water to over 500 people. DMS has funded four wells since 2018 and hopes by the end of this fundraiser will be able to fund a fifth well.

In language arts class, students read the book A Long Walk to Water. In this book, one of the characters has to walk for water twice a day to provide for her family. Although the character is fictional, the scenario is real. 

On May 17th, students will leave from the middle school and walk indirectly to the Upper Iowa River to gather and carry water. 7th grade Global Studies teacher Carrie Reed remarked, “We do the water walk to gain a sense of empathy for those who face that reality every day. In the past, the community has offered smiles and words of encouragement as they see us walking through town. We’ve even had people stop us and hand us money to add to our fundraiser total!”

Reed added, “I always tell my students that this is truly the most meaningful teaching and learning that I have ever been a part of. In a world where negative stories are easy to find, it’s good to share the amazing things that our young people are making happen!”

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7th graders gathering water to carry during a past Water to Thrive fundraiser.
2021 Well
Recipients of a well which was funded by the DHS 7th grade Water to Thrive program celebrate its installation in rural Africa.

Decorah High School’s Simon Kutz Competes Well in Geography Competitions

On April 28th in Arlington, Virginia, Decorah High School junior Simon Kutz competed with 100 other students from across the country in the United States Geography Championships and finished in 7th place. During the competition Kutz had to take a written exam covering the following categories: geomorphology, geography and current events, historical geography, cultural geography, economic geography, urban geography, biogeography, and climate geography. Then he took a test meant to assess the types of practical map skills and cartographic reasoning reflective of exam questions as well as field work examinations.

In addition, he was a finalist (8th place) in the National Varsity round of the International Geography Bee.

Kutz participated in both competitions last year, finishing 12th in the United States Geography Championships and 16th in the National Varsity round of the International Geography Bee. 

More information about these contests can be found at https://geographychampionships.com/nationals/.

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DHS Junior Simon Kutz takes 8th place in the National Varsity round of the International Geography Bee.

FEC Spell-A-Thon a Huge Success

The Decorah Family, Educator, and Community Organization (FEC) recently held a Spell-A-Thon Fundraiser. Through generous donations from families and community members, they raised over $36,000 for the Decorah Elementary Schools (John Cline and Carrie Lee).  This money will be used for field trips, extra classroom supplies, guest visitors, family events, teacher appreciation activities, and the like to support the elementary students, staff, and schools.  

The FEC would like to thank the community for supporting this fundraiser and our schools.

To learn more or to volunteer with the FEC, follow them on Facebook or contact FEC President Shanna Putnam Dibble at shanna.putnamdibble@decorah.k12.ia.us.

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Mr. Nesteby joins John Cline students for Popsicles to celebrate a great Spell-A-Thon!

Compost Only at Yard Waste

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Decorah Street Department

Press Contact: Jeremy Bril, City Engineer, 563-382-2157

Yard Waste Site Giveaway Day Update – Compost Only

Decorah, IA (May 5, 2023) – The City of Decorah is notifying residents that there are currently no more wood chips available at the City’s Yard Waste Site. The City will still have an end loader at the Yard Waste Site today until 3:30 PM and on Saturday, May 6th from 7:30 AM to 12 noon. However, the only material that will be available is compost.

Please contact the Street Department at 382-2157 with any questions.

 

This is an official city press release.  Modifications of any kind are prohibited without express written consent of the author.  Any reprint or broadcast of this information must include this entire communication.

 

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Open Hours for the Yard Waste Site

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Decorah Street Department

Press Contact: Jeremy Bril, City Engineer, 563-382-2157

City Yard Waste Site To Have Set Open Hours Starting May 10th

Decorah, IA (May 4, 2023) – Starting on Wednesday, May 10th, the City of Decorah Yard Waste Site will have set open hours. The Yard Waste Site will be open on Wednesdays from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM, on Saturdays from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM, and on Sundays from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM. A key will not be needed to access the site during these open hours. Those wishing to access the site outside of these open hours will need to check out a key from City Hall.

As a reminder, any yard waste that is deposited at the Yard Waste Site must originate from within the Decorah City Limits. However, residents and non-residents are welcome to take wood chips, compost, and/or firewood from the site.

Please call the Street Department at 563-382-2157 with any questions.

This is an official city press release.  Modifications of any kind are prohibited without express written consent of the author.  Any reprint or broadcast of this information must include this entire communication.

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Award Ceremony for Vesterheim and Depot

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, timed to Monday, May 15 event

Decorah Historic Preservation Commission

Contact: Mark Z. Muggli, DHPC Chair (historicpreservation@decorahia.org; 612-720-5795)

May 15 DHPC Historic Preservation Award Ceremony for Vesterheim and Depot

Decorah, IA (May 4, 2023) — The Decorah Historic Preservation Commission (DHPC) invites the public to a Monday, May 15, 4:30-6:00 pm award celebration of the Vesterheim Museum and of the Depot Outlet. The gathering will be held at Vesterheim’s Painter Mill outdoor gathering space, with the Amdal-Odland Center as a rain location. DHPC will provide light refreshments.

Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum

 Vesterheim is being celebrated for its imaginative, publicly-accessible Heritage Park landscaping, which has reinvigorated the Museum’s historic building collection.

Hayley Jackson, DHPC vice-chair, said, “Because of the new landscaping, Vesterheim’s Heritage Park now tells a more dramatic and coherent story about the immigrant experience. We are especially excited that the landscaping highlights the Dayton House’s unique architectural contribution to Decorah’s commercial district.”

Vesterheim’s President/CEO Chris Johnson said, “On behalf of Vesterheim’s board, staff, and volunteers, I would like to express heartfelt appreciation to the Decorah Historic Preservation Commission for this award. Thanks also to DHPC for guidance during the planning of Vesterheim Heritage Park. Their feedback helped make it a stronger project.”

The Depot Outlet

The Depot Outlet is being celebrated for its long-standing and wide-ranging support of local historic preservation–perhaps stimulated by its beginnings in its namesake, the 1888 Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul downtown train depot.

DHPC member Kathy Buzza said, “The Depot is a unique Decorah institution. In addition to providing a recycling outlet for used goods, the Depot has been unwaveringly supportive of Winneshiek County’s many historically-focused organizations. We’re especially pleased to give this award during the Depot’s 50th year.”

The Depot store director Jessica O’Mara expressed her appreciation for the DHPC award. “We are so happy that we have been able to provide support to Winneshiek County organizations for the past 50 years and look forward to continuing our support for the next 50!”

The Commission

DHPC chair Mark Z. Muggli noted that historic preservation awards often celebrate individuals who have rehabilitated historic properties. “This year’s awards,” noted Muggli, “hint at the wide range of conditions necessary for effective  historic preservation, including everything from generous funding to imaginative landscaping.”

The Decorah Historic Preservation Commission is a state-certified city board established in 2007 to promote the public’s educational and economic welfare through the recognition and enhancement of historic sites. A complete list of DHPC’s annual awards is at Award Recipients – City of Decorah Iowa. Contact: historicpreservation@decorahia.org.

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Rhymes With Decorah Podcast: Rhymes With… Agora Arts – Gail Bolson Magnuson

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Gail Bolson Magnuson started Agora Arts in downtown Decorah in 1992 with 33 regional artists represented in a gallery and artist workshop space. 30+ Years later, and a couple of moves, Agora still represents American Handcraft (and beyond) by over 200 artists, in a beautiful, welcoming retail space. On this episode we talk life paths, retail, starting a business, and keeping rural downtown main streets alive.

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Gail (right) and her shop crew.
(Photo Courtesy Agora Arts)

Gail comes from four generations of NE Iowans, and grew up around the intergenerational family business – SB Bolson & Sons Painting and Wallpapering –  artists and entrepreneurs in their right, of high end, award winning painting and papering in both commercial and residential settings.

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Gail – second from left, as part of an International Women’s Day Panel at Luther College 2023.

Gail had an interest in art from a young age, exploring many mediums, and having key influences along the way like retired Decorah Community School District Teacher Elizabeth Lorentzen, and Luther College fiber arts instructor Kate Martinson. Luther would also be how Gail found her husband Karl, and an amazing peer group that were a wave of creative and entrepreneurial young adults that chose to stay and make Decorah home in the late 1980s and 90s. 

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Gail and husband Karl
(Photo courtesy of Charlie Langton)

Agora continues into it’s fourth decade in business, now in it’s fourth location at 102 W. Water Street in Downtown Decorah (just next to the Hotel Winneshiek). Gail features the work of over 200 artisans including; jewelry, pottery, glass work, prints, cards, mugs and ceramic, as well as gifts specifically curated for gentlemen, and generally beautiful things to brighten anyone’s day.

Many thanks to Gail for taking time to share her story – and for all that she has provided our region for three decades and counting!

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“Rhymes With Decorah” is a companion project of Inspire(d) Media.

Original music heard in this podcast performed and recorded by Nick Zielinski of Decorah. Find him on Instagram, Patreon, TikTok and more @indicative_of_drumming

 

Compost Your Food Scraps

Rotten potatoes were found in the paper bin today at the recycling center. Please do not place food scraps in recycling bins. We cannot recycle them! Rotten potatoes belong in a compost pile! Here are some tips for starting a compost pile for folks that have never had one before:

  • Build the pile with green and brown materials of approximately equal volume. Kitchen scraps (remember, no meat) and grass clipping are examples of green materials. Dry leaves, cardboard, newspapers, and wood chips are examples of browns.
  • You can add materials any time. Remember to always bury fresh kitchen scraps in the middle of the pile, covering them with partially decomposed material. No meat, bones, or fish should be included.
  • Chop or shred materials, especially if they are dry or woody
  • Turn the pile
  • Keep the pile moist to accelerate the composting process
  • Finished compost is dark brown, crumbly, and moist, with a pleasant, earthy aroma. Large pieces can be screened out and returned to a fresh pile.
  • You can use your compost as a soil amendment by digging it into the earth, as a mulch by spreading it around plants, or as an ingredient in potting mix.

Winneshiek County Supervisors Meeting – May 1, 2023

0:06 -. Lee Bjerke – County Engineer
Re: road matters

22:00 – Lee Bjerke hands in his resignation
* A portion of his letter of resignation is reproduced below

30:19 – Public Hearing – Marx/Schluter Rezoning Request
(CANCELED – Application has been withdrawn.)

33:01 – Jim Beeghly
Re: Discussion of Roadside Management Program & 10 acre parcel up for lease

50:24 – Miscellaneous
– Letter of Support for Decorah’s Cultural & Entertainment District Application
– Action on use of remaining ARPA funds

1:01:18 – Andy Van Der Maaten – County Attorney
Re: Opioid Settlement Services Grant Resolution
Re: legal questions regarding agenda & other issues

1:15:13 Discussion of Roadside Management Program

* An excerpt of the letter of resignation from Lee Bjerke, Winneshiek County Engineer
Since January 3rd, the current Board has made statements, accusations, and taken actions, official and otherwise, that I do not agree with and I do not believe are in the best interest of Winneshiek County. These actions are not limited to Secondary Roads. As an engineer I am bound to work with information backed by facts, not random opinions, conjecture or hearsay. I do not wish to remain in an environment such as this where facts and truths do not seem to be sought or even discussed. To continue would be unproductive and not in the best interest of either party.

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