Month: December 2023

Winneshiek County Recycling Needs Your Help!

We love the committment to recycling, but we need your help! Recently, our recycling center has faced challenges with improper sorting and non-recyclables finding their way into the bins. This poses serious risks to our hardworking staff, especially when heavy items mix with lighter materials like paper. Large pieces of scrap metal need to be taken directly to the recycling center drop off shed and placed in the SCRAP METAL bin.

This not only jeopardizes the safety of our team but also increases the need for additional pickups, consuming more time and fuel. When people throw plastic waste in our paper bin, it fills up a lot faster and the plastic needs to be removed and taken to a different area in our facility. In addition, many of the plastics we have seen lately are not recyclable here.

At this time, we can only accept hard plastics marked with a triangle containing a #1 or a #2. There should be no liquids or food waste in these containters, and we do not take plastic bags or bubble wrap. Our dedicated staff shouldn’t have to sort through trash – that’s not their role! Before you throw something in the recycling bin, think about the folks that will have to handle that item when it arrives at the facility.

Trash belongs in the landfill, not the recycling bin. If you have a recyclable item, please ensure it goes in the correct container! Let’s work together to keep our recycling center safe and efficient. Sort wisely as we head into the new year! Thanks to everyone that recycles responsibly. You are the reason we can provide this service!

Mix of paper and other materials that came from the paper bin.
Trash found in a bag from one of the recycling bins.
Trash found in a bag from one of the recycling bins.
Trash found in a bag from one of the recycling bins.
Mix of recyclable items and trash on the conveyor belt at the recycling center.
Mix of recyclable items and trash on the conveyor belt at the recycling center.
Trash found in a bag from one of the recycling bins.
Mix of non paper and paper items from paper bin.
Mix of non paper and paper items from paper bin.
Mix of cardboard, paper, and plastic materials.

Luther College music faculty member touring region throughout January

DECORAH, IOWA—A member of the Luther College music faculty will visit three states and more than 40 choral groups during the month of January.

Mark Potvin

Dr. Mark Potvin, conductor of Norskkor, the Luther choir for first-year tenors and basses, will crisscross Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin engaging choral communities and high school music programs as the #NorskkorNomad.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to visit with student musicians across the region to encourage them to stay engaged with music and choral activities,” Potvin said. “As a high school teaching veteran, I love the opportunity to visit with the students and to serve as a resource for the group leaders.”

At each stop, Potvin will offer feedback to the youth groups, and will workshop and clinic with many of the groups. He will also answer questions for students interested in continuing their music or choral activities into college.

During the month-long tour, Potvin will take a brief break from the road to return to Decorah to participate in the Dorian Vocal Festival on Jan. 7 and 8, with more than 1,000 students from high schools throughout the region.

Fans of the music programs at Luther can follow along on Potvin’s travels by following his #NorskkorNomad tag on social media platforms.

Here is a tentative schedule for the #NorskkorNomad:

Jan. 4

  • North Fayette Valley High School (West Union, IA)
  • Crestwood High School (Cresco, IA)

Jan. 5

  • Decorah High School (Decorah, IA)

Jan. 9

  • Waukee High School (Waukee, IA)
  • Ankeny High School (Ankeny, IA)
  • Centennial High School (Ankeny, IA)

Jan. 10

  • Urbandale High School (Urbandale, IA)
  • Johnston High School (Johnston, IA)

Jan. 11

  • Dowling High School (Des Moines, IA)
  • Valley High School (West Des Moines, IA)

Jan. 12

  • Dallas Center Grimes High School (Noble Recital Hall | Luther College)

Jan. 14

  • Southeast Minnesota Honor Choirs (Rochester, MN)

Jan. 16

  • Linn Mar High School (Marion, IA)
  • Liberty High School (North Liberty, IA)

Jan. 17

  • Jefferson High School (Cedar Rapids, IA)
  • Prairie High School (Cedar Rapids, IA)
  • West High School (Iowa City, IA)

Jan. 18

  • 2nd Annual SE Metro Tenor/Bass Festival (Farmington, MN | FHS Recital Hall)

Jan. 19

  • Washington High School (Cedar Rapids, IA)
  • City High School (Iowa City, IA)

Jan. 21

  • Angelica Cantanti Singers (Bloomington, MN)

Jan. 22

  • Wayzata High School (Plymouth, MN)
  • Jefferson High School (Bloomington, MN)
  • Minnesota Boy Choir (St. Paul, MN)

Jan. 23

  • White Bear Lake Area High School (White Bear Lake, MN)
  • Armstrong High School (Robbinsdale, MN)
  • Kennedy High School (Bloomington, MN)
  • Minnesota Boy Choir (St. Paul, MN)

Jan. 24

  • Park High School (Cottage Grove, MN)
  • Rosemount High School (Rosemount, MN)
  • Waconia High School (Waconia, MN)

Jan. 25

  • Prior Lake-Savage High School (Prior Lake, MN)
  • Farmington High School (Farmington, MN)

Jan. 27

  • Locapalooza Show Choir Competition (Altoona, WI)

Jan. 29

  • East High School (Mankato, MN)
  • West High School (Mankato, MN)

Jan. 30

  • Owatonna High School (Owatonna, MN)
  • Austin High School (Austin, MN)

About Luther College

At Luther College in beautiful Decorah, Iowa, students explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Our academic programs, experiential approach to learning and welcoming community inspire students to learn actively, live purposefully and lead courageously for a lifetime of impact. Learn more at luther.edu.

Source link

New Year’s Eve Bash

The Decorah Parks and Recreation Department invites the community to attend the 26th Annual New Year’s Eve Bash sponsored by Decorah Bank & Trust and Gundersen Health System!  This free family friendly event will be held Sunday, December 31, 5:30-9:30pm, in the Luther College Regents Center. The evening includes open swimming, basketball, tennis, pickleball, a Bouncy House for the little ones, and more.  Concession items including pizza, popcorn, water and Gatorade will be available for purchase. Please enter the Luther College Regents Center using the circle drive entrance on the west side of the building.

Source link

Decorah Elementary Students Spread Holiday Cheer

  Throughout December, Decorah elementary students have been busy sharing holiday cheer throughout the community. Transitional kindergarten (TK) through 4th grade students created holiday cards and decorations for residents at local nursing homes and shared holiday songs during a visit.    Several of the third-grade classes recently participated in Holidays with Heroes. They visited our local heroes from the police station, sheriff’s department, fire station, and city hall and shared holiday songs and cookies.    Facilitator of Social Emotional Behavioral Health and Family and Community Partnerships Shanna Putnam Dibble stated, “Our educators work hard throughout the year to teach, model, practice, and promote Viking Pride, which is all about being respectful, responsible, and safe at school, at home, and throughout the community. These community service experiences are a great example of what Viking Pride is all about–being respectful and sharing kindness and love while serving our community!”
1st graders at Aase Haugen

1st graders share holiday songs with residents at Aase Haugen

4th graders at Aase Haugen

4th graders sing holiday songs and decorations with residents at Aase Haugen

Holidays with Heros singing 2

Holiday Heroes: sharing holiday songs and cookies with local heroes #1

Holiday with Heroes singing 1

Holiday Heroes: sharing holiday songs and cookies with local heroes #2

Cookies for the mayor 1

Holiday cookies for Mayor Borowski

Cookies for police officers

Sharing holiday cookies with police officers

Sheriff shares treats

Treats from sheriff office staff

Decorah Vocalists Selected to Opus Honor Choir

Twenty-eight students from Decorah were recently selected for participation in the 37th annual Opus Honor Choir Festival. Over 2,400 students were nominated by their directors for 720 positions in the four Opus Honor Choirs. Selections were made by means of a recorded audition.

This was the seventeenth year that Decorah had students audition for the Opus Honor Choirs. Throughout this time more than 393 students from Decorah have been accepted through recordings submitted by Dean Beckman, Jason Rausch, and community youth choir directors. This year, twenty-two students were selected from Decorah Middle School by recordings submitted by Dean Beckman, the second highest number of students accepted into the honor choirs by one teacher in the state of Iowa in 2023. Six ninth grade students were selected by recordings submitted by Jason Rausch at the Decorah High School. The following students were accepted.

6th Grade:  Niva Anderson, Jorgan Lee-Juve, Kaya Olson, Lillianna Richmond, Abby Shaw, Haylyn Stowe, Hayven Stowe, and Iris Wadsworth

7th Grade:  Nathaniel Crose, Tristan Hanson, Hanna Lensch, Simon Potvin, Veda Shimek, and Graham Torkelson

8th Grade:  Kennedy Carlson, Kylie Cord, Ella Evelsizer, Cooper Ewing, Derek Hrdlicka, Kaya Johnson, Logan Nalean-Carlson, and Davis Walter

9th Grade: Spencer Christensen, Lawrence Christman, Emma Cline, Olivia Rissman,

Colin Thompson, and Jillian Volz

In addition, one student was selected as a solo finalist to audition for the concert: Derek Hrdlicka in grade 8. Derek was selected to sing in a soli section of four students in the final concert.

Guest conductors of the choirs included Tami Meiners, Carroll Community School District, 5th & 6th Grade Honor Choir; Thad Wilkins, Mt. Vernon Community Schools, 7th & 8th Grade Bass Clef Honor Choir; Abby Sheppard, Sioux City Community Schools, 7th & 8th Grade Treble Clef Honor Choir; and Matt Walker, Iowa City Community School District, 9th Grade Mixed Honor Choir. The 2023 Opus Honor Choirs performed on November 16th in C.Y. Stephens Auditorium in the Iowa State Center in Ames. The Opus Honor Choir Festival was made possible by the Iowa Choral Directors Association, Inc.

DMS Opus 2023 5 8 grade

Photo ID: Opus 5-8 graders

Row 1 (l-r): Simon Potvin and Logan Nalean-Carlson

Row 2 (l-r):  Ella Evelsizer, Kennedy Carlson, Kaya Johnson, Davis Walter, Cooper Ewing, Derek Hrdlicka, Hanna Lensch, Veda Shimek, and Kylie Cord

Row 3 (l-r):   Nathaniel Crose, Abby Shaw, Iris Wadsworth, Haylyn Stowe, Hayven Stowe, 

Niva Anderson, Jorgan Lee-Juve, Kaya Olson, Graham Torkelson, and Tristan Hanson

Not Pictured: Lillianna Richmond

DHS Opus 2023 9th grade

Photo ID: Decorah 9th Grade Picture

Row 1 (l-r):  Emma Cline and Jillian Volz

Row 2: (l-r)  Olivia Rissman and Lawrence Christman

Row 3: (l-r)  Colin Thompson and Spencer Christensen

Luther College hosts Dream Week in honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

DECORAH, IOWA—Luther College will host Dream Week to honor Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Jan. 10–19. Events, activities and community outreach are planned throughout the week to remember King’s work and legacy and to examine the state of racism, bias, inequity and injustice in the world.  

Dr. Keona K. Ervin, a professor of gender, sexuality and women’s studies at Bowdoin College and former Luther assistant professor of history and Africana Studies, will give this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Lecture at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 15, in the Center for Faith and Life’s Main Hall. The lecture, Insurgent Black Study: A Brief History of the Present, will trace the genealogy of struggles for freedom, power and liberation within Black studies and Black feminist studies. The lecture is sponsored by the Williams Endowment Fund and the Luther identity studies department.  

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Ervin to Luther to give this year’s MLK Lecture,” said Char Kunkel, head of the identity studies department at Luther. “She brings an intersectional lens to her social justice activism by looking at racism, gender and sexuality inequities. She reminds us that we have not yet fully achieved the dream of social justice and that we must look ahead in the fight for equality.” 

“In its second year, Dream Week provides an opportunity to build upon the ideals of community and belonging,” said Robert Clay, chief equity and inclusion officer and assistant to the president for community engagement at Luther. “Dr. King once said, ‘There is another element that must be present in our struggle that then makes our resistance and nonviolence truly meaningful . . . our ultimate end must be the creation of the beloved community.’”

Wednesday, Jan. 10, The F Word: Stories of Forgiveness will open with a gallery reception at 4 p.m. in the Center for Faith and Life. The exhibition, which opens as part of Dream Week, will be displayed in the CFL through Jan. 24. The exhibit is a program through The Forgiveness Project and features thought-provoking images and personal narratives exploring forgiveness in the face of atrocity. 

At 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16, in the Center for Faith and Life Recital Hall, students, faculty, staff and community members are invited to A Conversation on Racial Healing. This event is in recognition of the National Day of Racial Healing, which calls on colleges and universities across the country to engage in activities, events and strategies that promote healing and foster engagement around the issues of racism, bias, inequity and injustice in our society. 

On Thursday, Jan. 18, Luther community members will read books to area elementary school students about service, leadership, justice, civility and diversity. 

There will also be chapel services in the CFL Main Hall, including a service remembering MLK at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 17, to honor King’s legacy. At 10:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 19, the community is welcome to attend a service lamenting racism. This special service will inspire all in attendance to recognize and work to repair the harm caused by racism and to recommit to doing the work of repair and restoration. 

 “It is my hope that through the program offerings and partnerships established throughout Dream Week, we can pause, reflect and answer the questions: Where are we now? Where must we go? What must be done? And more importantly, what can I do to create a just and equitable society for all of us?” Clay said. 

About the Williams Endowment Fund for the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Lecture

Luther College’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day Lecture began in 1987 to provide ongoing scholarly conversation about the struggle for human rights in the United States. It is supported by the Williams Endowment Fund, named in recognition of Lawrence and Queen Williams for their dedication and years of service to Luther. The endowment assures the continuation of the college’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Lecture. Lawrence Williams planned and solicited funding for more than 20 of these lectures throughout his career as a Luther faculty member. His dedication to the lecture series reflected a commitment to understanding civil rights that went beyond academic study. Williams’ personal experiences with the civil rights movement and its protests allowed him to share a firsthand perspective with students, and his acquaintance with civil rights leaders brought extraordinary people to campus to share their lives and stories.

About Luther College

At Luther College in beautiful Decorah, Iowa, students explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Our academic programs, experiential approach to learning and welcoming community inspire students to learn actively, live purposefully and lead courageously for a lifetime of impact. Learn more at luther.edu.

Source link

Winter Walkers

Decorah Parks and Recreation invites the community to join our Winter Walkers program beginning Monday, January 1st! Winter Walkers is a fun way for folks of all ages to stay active, spend time outside, and stay motivated during the winter when we are oftentimes less likely to bundle up and head outdoors. The aim of this program is to get moving every day, so feel free to participate as a walker, runner, biker, or whatever keeps you moving!

Participate as an individual or create a pod (small group or family) and challenge yourself to get outside and walk every day. There is no cost to participate, participants should register online by completing THIS registration form.

Each week you will receive an email that includes suggested routes, fun challenges, and a link to each week’s walk log. Each submitted log is an entry into a drawing for a monthly prize. You are not required to walk/move a certain amount, but rather are encouraged to set weekly goals and to keep a personal log to track and celebrate your own accomplishments.

Register now and join us as we walk Decorah!

1 2 3 4