Building Local Community Through Arts, Cultural, and Recreational Events, and the Exchange of Goods and Services
Decorah Parks & Recreation and the Iowa DNR are hosting a fishing day beginning at 9:00am at Twin Springs Pond.
By Paul Cutting, Energy Planner
DECORAH – With help from the Winneshiek Energy District and Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission, the City of Decorah applied for $233,638 from the Iowa Development Authority’s Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program. The city was recently notified that its grant request was successful.
The project will provide cold climate ductless heat pumps at two Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation properties in Decorah—the 15-unit Woolen Mill apartment building located downtown Decorah, and the 16-unit Washington Court apartment building at 600 Washington Street. The grant will also enable Decorah households to access energy coaching services with the goal of connecting them to tax credits and point of sale rebates provided by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
Woolen Mill Energy Upgrades
The Woolen Mill apartment building was originally constructed in 1867 and was renovated into 15 apartments in 2002, many of which serve lower income households. At the time of its renovation in 2002, the entire building was equipped with electric resistance heat, with each tenant paying their own electricity and Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation (NEICAC) responsible for common area and hallway heating and cooling. The building was also outfitted with primitive ductless air conditioning, but most units have since failed. Most tenants now rely on window air conditioners.
Tenant electricity costs have escalated over time, in part due to significant increases in electricity rates, and also because the building’s exterior windows are leaky and approaching their end of life. As part of Winneshiek Energy District’s involvement in this project, we analyzed electric bills for both energy and cost savings, assisted with appropriate heat pump selection, and helped secure contractor quotes.
Last year, electricity bills at Woolen Mill for single-bedroom units averaged $90-$120/month, whereas two-bedroom units averaged $120-$140/month. The installation of new electric air source heat pumps with seasonally averaged efficiencies of 275-300% relative to electric resistance heating should reduce tenant electric bills by at least $35/month per unit. Building-wide (including NEICAC’s expenses for heating and cooling common areas), the new heat pumps should reduce annual energy consumption by 43,500 kWh and energy bills by $7,220.
Washington Court Energy Upgrades
The other building to benefit from this project, the 16-unit senior housing named Washington Court, was built in 1996 and utilizes electric resistance heating and through-the-wall window air conditioning. Tenant electricity expenses are significantly less than Woolen Mill, in part due to the building being in generally better condition, of newer construction, and with lower ceilings.
Last year, tenant electricity expenses averaged $71/month, and it is anticipated bills will decrease to $51/month once new heat pumps are installed. Building-wide, the heat pumps are anticipated to save 18,320 kWh annually, or $3,800.
Free Energy Coaching for Low Income Households
The EECBG grant award will also help lower-income Decorah households access free energy coaching to help them identify opportunities for efficiency improvements and savings through tax credits and rebates funded by the IRA. Look for news about both programs in the coming months.
Decorah Public Library is partnering with Beanstack to reach our community Summer Reading Goal of 10,000 books! Beanstack is an online platform that encourages literacy by helping readers track their habits through fun reading challenges.
Why Join Beanstack?
How to Get Started:
Let’s make this summer a reading-filled success together!
Did you know that today is Learn About Composting Day!? Composting your food waste is one of the best things you can do at home to reduce the amount of garbage filling up our landfill. Compost eventually breaks down into a soil amendment that can be used as fertilizer for your garden or lawn. To learn some composting tips, click here!
Crystal Duffy, Community Developer for the Postville Community Heart and Soul program joins us on this episode to talk about one NE Iowa communities journey through the Heart and Soul framework.
Postville, a small town of 2,500+ in rural Allamakee County, has been slowly growing for well over a decade as local processing plant jobs and various industries have continued to work to fill out the work force. In recent decades, Postville has actually almost doubled in population as workers have arrived from Guatemala, Mexico, Russia, the Ukraine, Somalia, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, and beyond. Entities like the Postville School District, Public library, and local churches have continued filling gaps to make newcomers feel welcome and find their places – enter the Community Heart and Soul Program. 
Community Heart & Soul, a national nonprofit organization that, “builds stronger, healthier, and more economically vibrant small cities and towns across the United States through the Community Heart & Soul model – a resident-driven process that engages the entire population of a town in identifying what they love most about their community, what future they want for it, and how to achieve it.”
The idea for Postville to work through the Heart and Soul process originated through the cooperation of the Postville City Council, Allamakee County Economic Development, the Allamakee-Clayton Electric Cooperative, and the nonprofit Our Postville. For the past couple years, the group, led by a community developer, has implemented the four steps of the Community Heart and Soul Process: Imagine, Connect, Plan, and Act.
Developed and field-tested over a decade in partnership with over 120 small cities and towns across America, the national Community Heart & Soul program provides a framework for for supporting communities into the future – with community involvement at the heart of every step.
Join us for this conversation with Postville Community Heart & Soul program manager and community developer Crystal Duffy as we talk about her journey to NE Iowa, as well as Postville’s journey through the Heart & Soul process and into the future. Follow Our Postville Community Heart & Soul on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OurPostvilleCHS.
“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 @indicative_of_drumming
Located on a stately corner of Broadway and River Street in downtown Decorah is the former home of Adelbert Field Porter (1879 – 1968) and Grace Young Porter (1880 – 1964). Both single children of early Decorah and NE Iowa business families, Grace and Bert Porter left their home as a Museum of worldly collections that inspire exploration of history, nature, and art.
Join Museum Docent Erica Reynolds, and Porter House Museum Manager John Reynolds on this episode for an overview of all that the Porter House offers visitors!
“Bert” (as he was more commonly called) was a gentleman naturalist, collector, and photographer who traveled throughout the world in pursuit of butterflies, rocks, and other curiosities. A man of artistic sensibilities, Bert used his nature collections to create unique “nature art,” for which he became well known during his lifetime.
At the museum, visitors experience the historic travels, art, and collecting of this naturalist and his wife against the backdrop of Victorian elegance that was their home and heritage.
You can learn about the Porters, their collections, the incredible rock wall surrounding the property, plus another 11 virtual exhibits on the Porter House website as well.
Visit the Porter House Museum at 401 West Broadway in Downtown Decorah, daily from June-August with guided tours at 1pm, 2pm, and 3pm. The Museum is also open weekends in May and September (closed October-April). It is worth mentioning that the grounds are open daily for visitors with no cost – including the incredible rock wall and garden. Visitors are welcome to check ahead at info@porterhousemuseum.org – (563) 382-8465.
Interested adventurers can also support the Porter House by becoming a member. Group tours are also welcome, but require advance planning and timing due to the historic nature of the museum. Find all the information online https://www.porterhousemuseum.org/ at or on Facebook.
All Photos Courtesy of Porter House Museum
“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 @indicative_of_drumming
As we honor and remember the brave men and women who have served our country, we hope everyone has a safe and joyful holiday weekend.
Please note, our recycling center will be closed on Monday in observance of the holiday. We’ll resume normal operations on Tuesday.
As we head into the weekend, we wanted to provide a tip to reduce waste in your household:
*Buy in bulk.
Buying items in bulk reduces waste by eliminating unnecessary packaging and helps our landfill last longer by creating less trash. If you need to buy plastic packaging, try to stick with hard plastics stamped with a #1 or #2 so they can be recycled at our facility.
Thank you!
The annual WinnMed Hospice Memorial Ride is set for Sunday, June 23. The event will begin on the WinnMed campus in Decorah with a free-will donation breakfast, and will be held rain or shine.
The 2024 event will support specialty therapies for hospice patients: Pet Therapy, Music Therapy and Massage Therapy. Additionally this year’s donations will support WinnMed Hospice’s “We Honor Veterans” program.
“There are many benefits to the complimentary therapies provided through WinnMed Hospice,” says Nancy Haberichter, director of WinnMed Hospice. “For hospice patients dealing with both physical and emotional pain and anxiety, the therapies can provide positive changes in mood, relaxation, peace and comfort. They reduce anxiety and stress and bring on more social interaction with caregivers and families. These therapies inevitably bring a smile to the faces of patients, which in turn, is a gift to both hospice staff as well as to families.” She adds, “This year we are hoping to add more services to our hospice patients who are veterans by providing them with specialized care geared toward their service to country.”
Breakfast is open to the public from 9 -10:30 am in the WinnMed Cafeteria. Convenient parking is available in Lot E. Anyone is welcome to come and have breakfast, whether riding or not.
All vehicles are welcome to participate in the poker run. The ride entry fee is $20 per person and sign-in is available at WinnMed from 9-10:30 am (during the breakfast). Bikes and cars will take off at 11:00 am from WinnMed to begin the poker run. The ride will take a tour of the beautiful roads of Northeast Iowa and Southeast Minnesota and end at Pivo Brewery in Calmar at 4:30 pm with a silent auction, door prizes and refreshments. WinnMed Hospice provides end-of-life care that ensures quality of life, compassion and comfort for patients and their loved ones. Services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to patients and families in Allamakee, Clayton, Chickasaw, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek Counties. Haberichter says, “We have received such wonderful support from the communities we serve. We are extremely happy to provide all these therapies to our patients and excited to offer Veteran services as well. The Hospice Memorial Ride donations will help to keep these therapies available for a long time to come.” For more
Winneshiek County Veterans Affairs would like to invite Winneshiek County Veterans and their family to our annual Appreciation Day and Open house. It’s a come and go event. It will be held on Thursday June 13th from 4:30-6:30pm located in the Courthouse Annex Building. Refreshments will be provided and Benefit Materials will be available. We’ll have presenters starting at 5:30pm. The VA Decorah Clinic, Winneshiek County Contracted Counselor and a briefing on VA Federal, State and County Benefits.
Thirty Luther College students were inducted into Phi Beta Kappa on Saturday, May 18.
DECORAH, IOWA—Luther College’s Phi Beta Kappa chapter welcomed 30 students into membership at the annual induction ceremony, held on Saturday, May 18. David Kamm, emeritus professor of art and former gallery coordinator at Luther, gave the Ruth A. Davis Memorial Address and was inducted as an honorary member into Phi Beta Kappa as well.
Phi Beta Kappa is the oldest and most respected undergraduate honors organization in the United States. The society has fostered and recognized excellence in the liberal arts and sciences since 1776, and the society’s distinctive emblem, a golden key, is widely recognized as a symbol of academic achievement.
Luther College is one of a select group of private liberal arts colleges in the United States with a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. The Eta of Iowa Chapter at Luther College was established in 1983. Members are elected on the basis of broad academic interests, scholarly achievement and good character. The 2024 inductees include:
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.