The public is cordially invited to attend a free concert by local favorite The OK Factor on February 22 at 7:00 p.m. in the Carrie Lee Auditorium at 210 Vernon St. This concert is sponsored by Vesterheim Museum and Art School.
Playful and unexpected, this new-classical crossover duo writes and performs folk-inspired music influenced by multiple genres and styles, with an artistry that reveals their classical training. This concert is made possible in part by a generous gift to the Vesterheim Annual Fund by Bob and Mary Lake.
Cellist Olivia Diercks and violinist Karla Colahan find great joy in defying expectations and delivering an experience outside of what audiences anticipate from a cello and violin combo. Their passion for performing and educational outreach has continued to bring them success in communities across the Midwest and abroad, inviting audiences to explore music and cultivate a curiosity about its role in their lives.
This concert is part of a music residency in the Decorah Public Schools organized through Vesterheim and funded by an anonymous grant agency. From February 19-26, Diercks and Colahan will meet with every string instrument player in grades 5-12. They will join elementary music classes and the middle school and high school orchestra rehearsals to provide music instruction and learning fun, and will lead the high school music theory class in a composition and improvisation workshop.
Decorah High School orchestra teacher Nicole Cody remarked, “We are so excited to welcome Olivia and Karla back into our classrooms. Their fun, engaging personalities, deep musical knowledge, and teaching skill create an environment that allows students to make new music without fear.”
Diercks and Colohan, both Luther graduates, were last in Decorah for a school residency in 2018, so some of the younger students they worked with previously will meet them again as more advanced musicians.
Ilona Kubiaczyk-Adler, a leading expert on the rich yet underrepresented modern and historical organ repertoire of Central and Eastern Europe, will captivate listeners at Luther College’s annual Benefactor’s Organ Recital at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 9, in the Center for Faith and Life Main Hall. The recital is free and open to the public.
Ilona Kubiaczyk-Adler is a leading expert on the rich yet underrepresented modern and historical organ repertoire of Central and Eastern Europe. She will perform at Luther College on Sunday, March 9, in the Center for Faith and Life Main Hall.
Kubiaczyk-Adler is a concert organist, pianist, conductor, artistic director, and educator known for celebrating the joy of music. Currently, she is director of ministries in music and arts and organist at Pinnacle Presbyterian Church in Scottsdale, Arizona.
“Her performances engage audiences with their bold interpretations, refreshing rhythmic vigor and deep sense of musical style,” said Alexander Meszler, assistant professor of music at Luther College. “We are thrilled to welcome her for what is sure to be an inspiring recital and for our students to have the opportunity to work with her.”
In her March 9 program titled “Organ Music of Eastern Europe and the Americas,” Kubiaczyk-Adler will explore early music from Eastern Europe, American composers influenced by Johann Sebastian Bach, and works by 20th- and 21st-century women composers from both regions. The program will include music by Johann Gottfried Müthel, Johannes Fischer of Morąg, Adam of Wągrowiec, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Ramon Noble, Brenda Portman, Florence Beatrice Price and Lesia Vasylivna Dychko. The recital will also feature Jacob Adler’s jazz-influenced, partially improvised piece.
The annual Benefactor’s Organ Recital features outstanding artists of international caliber on Luther’s 42-stop Robert Sipe Organ in the Center for Faith and Life. The concert intends to provide an inspirational role model for current and prospective students who wish to pursue organ or church music study at Luther, as well as offer the community a concert of the highest quality.
The recital is made possible through the Kathryn Ulvilden Moen ’41 Organ Fund and the William B. Kuhlman Endowment.
The Decorah Community School District invites parents and guardians of children who will be five years old by , to attend an informational meeting about Kindergarten and Transitional Kindergarten (TK) programs. This meeting will be on Tuesday, February 25, at the Carrie Lee Elementary auditorium, 210 Vernon Street. Pre-registration begins at 5:30 p.m., and the informational meeting will run from 6-7 p.m.
This meeting will provide valuable information about enrollment, curriculum, and what families can expect as their children begin their educational journey at John Cline Elementary School.
On March 4 Decorah residents will once again have the opportunity to decide their energy future during a city-wide election to “Establish a Municipal Electric Utility.” By voting “Yes!” citizens of Decorah take the first step in exploring the opportunity of a municipally owned electric utility (MEU). It’s a historic opportunity to prioritize local issues and make choices that are in the best interest of Decorah and it’s citizens, and the broader world.
MEUs in Iowa are reported to have faster response times in disasters, lower rates, and better reliability than Decorah’s current investor owned utility. As the world entersan era of increased electrification, I’d bet that Decorah’s investment in electric infrastructure now would be a wise investment for the future.
The Winneshiek Energy District is working toward a future where energy dollars circulate locally, citizens have transparency and truth from their energy provider, and utilities are innovative drivers of clean energy progress. Rural spaces have a history of being extracted from for the benefit of big business. Let’s flip this narrative through local ownership so that “return on investment to stakeholders” results in vibrant rural communities.
Are you ready to champion local energy? Stay connected with this issue, learn about public events and/or donate. Together we can transform our energy systems to reflect the people that they serve!
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), through a partnership with Alliant Energy, is offering a mixture of hardwoods, low-growing ornamental and evergreen tree species for $25 each.
Alliant Energy customers can purchase up to two trees to be picked up at the following locations:
Tuesday, April 22, 4:00-6:00 p.m., Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery (2321 Siewers Spring Rd, Decorah)
Thursday, April 24, 4:00-6:00 p.m., USDA Service Center Parking lot (300 Chamber Drive, Anamosa)
Tuesday, April 29, 4:00-6:00 p.m., 205 SE 2nd St, Greenfield
Tuesday, May 6, 4:00-6:00 p.m., Calkins Nature Center (18335 135th St, Iowa Falls)
Thursday, May 8, 4:00-6:00 p.m., Westbrook Park (520 Westbrook Drive, DeWitt)
Submit an order form, available online at www.iowadnr.gov/trees, to reserve your trees.
Media Contact: Shaila Claibourn, Urban and Community Forestry Technician, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, 515-381-8876 or shaila.claibourn@dnr.iowa.gov.
Homeowners interested in planting on the boulevard should review the Tree Voucher for approved trees and get approval from the City Forester before planting.
Students who transfer to Luther College from other institutions have traditionally been a small part of the new student population each year. But through participation in the Iowa Private Transfer Collaborative and the hard work of Luther faculty and staff, Luther is preparing to welcome more transfer students in the future.
Through participation in the Iowa Private Transfer Collaborative and the hard work of Luther faculty and staff, Luther is preparing to welcome more transfer students in the future.
The project started when Luther and 18 other four-year institutions formed the Iowa Private Transfer Collaborative. With support from a three-year grant from the Arthur Vining Davis and Teagle foundations, the Iowa Private Transfer Collaborative brings together faculty from community colleges and four-year institutions to ensure the seamless transfer of academic credit.
Luther has addressed several challenges for student transfers, including streamlining processes, designating an admissions staff person to assist prospective students, and easing access to transfer course equivalencies. Now, transfer students are experiencing a smooth admission process.
Art professor Ben Moore explained how Luther’s curriculum committee reviewed approximately 8,000 courses from regional institutions last summer and determined the equivalent course credit at Luther.
“It was no small task,” Moore said.
Once the curriculum committee completed their work, this information was added to Transferology, a free online tool to help students explore their transfer options by answering the question, “Will my courses transfer?”
“Now it’s all in one spot,” Moore said. “We are dedicated to making the process of joining the Luther community smooth for transfer students. Transferology is one part of Luther’s ongoing goal to be a transfer-friendly college.”
Another part is the Iowa Private Transfer Guarantee agreement, which guarantees admission for students who have earned an associate of arts or an associate of science degree at a community college in Iowa. Fifteen Iowa community college presidents approved the Iowa Private Transfer Guarantee agreement with the Iowa Private Transfer Collaborative in October 2024. Essentially, this agreement streamlines the transfer process for students at Iowa community colleges.
“As a proud partner of the Iowa Private Transfer Collaborative, we are excited to offer more students a pathway to thrive and succeed at Luther College,” said Matt Beatty, vice president for enrollment management at Luther. “We welcomed 27 new transfer students to Luther College last fall, representing 10 states, including Iowa, and four countries. We are especially proud that 18.5% of these students are first-generation.”
Luther junior Jermaine Dizon believes that Luther is well on its way to becoming a transfer-friendly institution.
Luther junior Jermaine Dizon believes that Luther is well on its way to becoming a transfer-friendly institution. This global health major from Charles City described his experience as “smooth.”
“My teammates, coaches and professors took the time to ease me into everything Luther and Decorah-related and made sure I was adjusting well,” Dizon said. “They put me in contact with fellow students within my area of interest. Residence life made it easy to get adjusted by sending me all the necessary information and the admissions team answered all of my questions and concerns.”
Dizon is a member of Luther’s men’s cross country and track and field teams.
“Transferring to Luther has been the best decision I’ve made; my only regret is not coming here sooner,” he said.
Decorah High School students participated in the Northeast State Large Group Speech Contest at Decorah High School on February 8. Judges at the state contest selected 17 of Decorah High School performances as outstanding, breaking the school record. These 17 All-State Speech nominations are an invitation to participate in the All-State Speech Festival, February 22 at Iowa State University, which will include performances by the best speech students from across the state of Iowa.
Being designated a non-performing group at All-State is as special of an honor as performing; however, scheduling limitations prevent all nominees from performing.
DHS speech students are coached by Molly Holkesvik, Gabriel Twedt, Carrie Kauffman, Lyra McKnight, Kristen Underwood, and Johanna Bergan.
The directors remarked, “We are elated with these results as our students keep raising the bar year after year. We are so excited to have our students and program be recognized at the All-State Festival. As coaches, it means the world to us to create art with such talented, professional, and passionate young artists. The nominations are just the cherry on top of a great year. We look forward to celebrating all of our nominees at the festival in two weeks.”
DHS speech groups nominated as an All-State Honoree include a choral reading, three ensemble actings, two group improvs, three solo mimes, two musical theatres, three radio broadcastings, a readers theatre, a one-act play, and one television newscasting.
Cast lists for those groups performing are as follows:
Choral Reading “Welcome to High School: Emotional Warfare:” was directed by Molly Holkesvik and Johanna Bergan.
Participants include Natalie Goodner, Tommy Hammel, Camryn Holland, Klaara Short, Klara Kelly, Ezra Harman-Wood, Ava Hanson, Jillian Volz, Jayden Lundtvedt, Emma Cline, Olivia Rissman, and Margaret Hahn.
Ensemble Acting “How to Get Away with a Murder Mystery” was directed by Lyra McKnight.
Participants include Karmyn Bakken, Elliana Brodbeck, Klaara Short, Shawn Holzer, Alex Mercado-Arneson, and Ryan Northup. (Non-performing)
Ensemble Acting “Love, Loss, and What I Wore” was directed by Kristen Underwood.
Participants include Elsa Christman, Nora Lesmeister, Isis Timm, Kaylie Wemark, and Margaret Hahn. (Non-performing)
Ensemble Acting “These Shining Lives” was directed by Molly Holkesvik and Kristen Underwood.
Participants include Teagan Menke, Noah Potvin, Vivian Searcy, Grace Stockman, Olivia Volkmann, and Jillian Volz.
Group Improv was directed by Molly Holkesvik, Lyra McKnight, and Kristen Underwood.
Varsity: Oliver Brummel, Liam Chamberlain, Jack Sovern, Beau Newhouse, and Ansel Kowitz
9th Grade: Isaac Bentley, Brody Darling, and Raelyn Newhouse
Solo Mime “Flight Frenzy” by Clarence Nimrod – directed by Molly Holkesvik, Gabriel Twedt, and Carrie Kauffman.
Solo Mime “Miss Adventurefuls” by Margret Zook – directed by Molly Holkesvik, Gabriel Twedt, and Carrie Kauffman.
Solo Mime “The Red Shoes” by Vivian Searcy – directed by Molly Holkesvik, Gabriel Twedt, and Carrie Kauffman. (Non-performing)
Musical Theatre “Once” was directed by Gabriel Twedt and Carrie Kauffman.
Participants include Liam Chamberlain, Gwenyth Thompson, Mikayla Hiner, Jameson LaBelle, Caleb Johnson, Ezra Vorvick, Emma Cline, and Colin Thompson.
Musical Theatre “Something Rotten” was directed by Gabriel Twedt and Carrie Kauffman.
Participants include Oliver Brummel, Spencer Christensen, Davis Coppola, Greta Jones, Andy Kruger, June Breitenbach-Dirks, Elsa Christman, and Kealy Hines. (Non-performing)
Radio Broadcasting “KREK” was directed by Gabriel Twedt and Carrie Kauffman.
Participants include Karmyn Bakken, Evynne Downing, Camryn Holland, Leah Suhr, Sam Cline, Lyla Lovstuen, Lulu Bellrichard, and Evan Madsen.
Radio Broadcasting “KMCD” was directed by Gabriel Twedt and Carrie Kauffman.
Participants include Asmere Jensen, Mason Myers, Jerald Thompson, Addison Wicklund, Gavy Smith, Stella Pole, Deborah Hougen, and Oskar Swanson.
Radio Broadcasting “KORN” was directed by Gabriel Twedt and Carrie Kauffman.
Participants include Grant Zilka, Ezra Harman-Wood, Lily Sandhorst, Eden Scheidel, Kamryn Steines, Kyan Oftedahl, Carter Riley, and Claire Storhoff.
Readers Theatre “The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science” was directed by Gabriel Twedt and Carrie Kauffman.
Participants include Hannah Arendt, Davis Coppola, Annika Keefe, Ansel Kowitz, Andy Kruger, McKenzie Riley, Margret Zook, Grace Blikre, Mikayla Hiner, Jameson LaBelle, Nora Lesmeister, Kaylie Wemark, Lulu Bellrichard, Gwenyth Thompson, and Sawyer Courtney.
One Act Play “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)” was directed by Kristen Underwood.
Participants include Hannah Arendt, Elliana Brodbeck, McKenzie Riley, Ezra Vorvick, June Breitenbach-Dirks, Caleb Johnson, Noah Potvin, Elsa Johnson, Greta Jones, Grace Blikre, and Lily Sandhorst.
Television Newscasting “Iowa Cold Case: Decoding a Murder” was directed by Molly Holkesvik, Gabriel Twedt, and assistant coach Braunwyn Darrington.
Participants include Elliot Berland, Ava Hanson, Kaelyn Kuhn, Naomi Kutz, Myla Leitz, Landyn Hook, Jack Sovern, Kamryn Steines, Carter Riley, Lawrence Christman, Nina Sessions, Claire Storhoff, Spencer Christensen, Sam Cline, and Lauren Severtson. (Non-performing)
“Once” Musical Theatre
Front Row: Emma Cline, Gwenyth Thompson, Mikayla Hiner, Caleb JohnsonBack Row: Jameson LaBelle, Colin Thompson, Liam Chamberlain, Ezra Vorvick
One Act Play “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)” @font-face {font-family:”Cambria Math”; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:””; margin:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:”Times New Roman”,serif; mso-fareast-font-family:”Times New Roman”;}.MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-size:10.0pt; mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family:”MS Mincho”; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-font-kerning:0pt; mso-ligatures:none; mso-fareast-language:JA;}div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;}
Front Row: Elliana Brodbeck, Lily Sandhorst, Hannah Arendt, McKenzie Riley, Greta Jones, June Breitenbach-Dirks, Kristen Underwood (Director/Coach)Back Row: Noah Potvin, Ezra Vorvick, Caleb Johnson, Grace Blikre, Elsa Johnson
The Decorah High School robotics teams participated in their league tournament this past Saturday at Peet Junior High School in Cedar Falls. The tournament featured 28 different area robotics teams, all competing in the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) competition. At the beginning of the school year, these FTC teams of high school students were given an obstacle course-style scenario. Teams then designed, built, and programmed an 18 x 18 x 18-inch robot that they could control in order to score as many points as possible within that scenario. This year’s competition is called “Into the Deep” and requires teams to retrieve sample blocks from a metal container and either lift them up to place into suspended baskets or clip them onto hanging poles. Teams could also score points for suspending their robots from the support beams on the metal container along with other scoring options in both an autonomous period and a driver-controlled period.
The freshmen/sophomore team from Decorah, named The Valiant Vikings, competed in five matches at the competition, earning a high score of 120 points. Their robot was designed with a two-claw system. The first claw was designed to pick up samples from the floor and transfer them up to the second claw. The second claw was connected to a drawer-slide tower which could slide up to place the samples into high baskets. The team’s scores steadily climbed throughout the season, and they will look to continue their growth next year.
The junior/senior team, named the Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Men and Women, ended the qualification matches in 11th place after facing many difficulties with their robot including a motor dying, their tower coming apart, and a wire getting caught. Their robot was designed to lower a claw on motor to the floor in order to pick up samples. Then, the arm was attached to their tower that could raise them to the high baskets. In the playoff rounds, they partnered with the SabreHoof Tigers from Cedar Falls to form the fifth-place alliance. There, they defeated the 4th ranked alliance and the 6th ranked alliance before losing to the eventual championship alliance.
The Wacky Wavers also were awarded the Control Award at the competition, given to the team with the best computer programming and code documentation. The team uses different programming languages, like Java and Block programming, along with odometry sensor wheels in order to detect where the robot is on the field and to call different functions to move the motors when and where they need them to.
Winning the Control Award qualified the junior/senior team to compete at the state championship on February 28th and March 1st at the Xtreme Arena in Coralville.
“I am very proud of our teams as they both had to overcome many challenges throughout the year and did so in a way that shows they have a high level of perseverance and grit,” says Brett Wilker, the Decorah Robotics Coach. “Many of the students in our robotics programs are interested in pursuing careers in engineering, robotics, or computer science, and through this program, they are given the opportunity to learn the skills that will make them successful in these fields.”
The Valiant Vikings (in blue and red) prepare for a qualification match at a recent competition. Left to Right: Jay Jensen, Wyatt Birdsell, Joey McFarlane
Robot Operators Emily Myers and Bryce Elsbernd talk strategy on the queuing table before their next match.
Both robotics teams pose in their pit areas after the league tournament on Saturday. Phuong Doan, Jerald Thompson, Kellen Roffman, Mason Myers, Andie Gegax, Emily Myers, Bryce Elsbernd, Juniper Maret, Joey McFarlane, Coach Brett Wilker, Evan Madsen, Leo McNown-Beck, Owen Rix, and Wyatt Birdsell
The Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Men and Women prepare to face off against the Valiant Vikings in a recent competition.
