Winneshiek County Residents – Want a Free Home Composter?

Winneshiek County residents! Did you hear you can earn a home composter for no cost this year? See the details listed below to find out if you are eligible. Composting your food waste helps reduce pressure on our landfill. It also creates healthy soil that can be used as fertilizer in your garden! Click on the “Composting” tab in the top right corner to learn more about the home composter or to order a container.

If you are not a Winneshiek County resident, you can still order a bin for approximately $55. Supplies are limited. The order form will be closed when supplies run out.

Conditions for earning a bin for no charge:

1. You must be a Winneshiek County resident

2. You must attend a compost training (sessions are listed in the order form)

3. Limit of one free composter per household

Questions about this program? Contact Evan Neubauer at wildrecycling@winneshiekwild.com.

Rhymes With Decorah Podcast: Rhymes With – Liuda Skorlupina and Maryna Nading

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Liudmyla Skorlupina is a Ukrainian English teacher, currently living with her son Zhenia in the US. They are from Bucha, Ukraine, and were able to participate in the “Uniting for Ukraine” Federal humanitarian program, which allows them to spend up to two years in the US with a host sponsor family.

Liuda and Luther College Professor of Anthropology Maryna Nading have known each other since their upper schooling days in Khmelnytskyi, Ukraine. (Maryna is a past guest of the show – hear that episode here.) Through Nading’s work with the Luther College Paideia program, Liudmyla is visiting Decorah to present the Paideia lecture “Public Anthropology and the Common Good: Costly Lessons of Bearing Witness to War” on February 13, 2024 (An online link to the presentation may be found here).

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Liuda Skorlupina

Liuda is a Ukrainian native, and has lived with her family in Bucha (Ukraine) for over a decade – a suburb of about 60,000 just 20 miles the Capital city Kiev.

When the Russian invasion of Ukraine ramped up in February of 2022, Bucha became a cross roads of invading Russian troops, with intense fighting now known as the “Bucha Massacre”. These brutal attacks on the people of Bucha led to hundreds of civilian and prisoner of war deaths, with documented torture, rape, and mass graves left in the wake of the Russian forces. When Bucha was retaken by Ukrainian forces in late March 2022, the full extent of the atrocities came to light, with US President Biden calling for Russian President Vladimir Putin to face war crimes charges. An outrage across the world was sparked, marking even more severe sanctions against Russia by the US & Allies.

While many recovery efforts have been made in Bucha since the Spring of 2022 (as much of the fighting has moved into Eastern Ukraine), the City, along with Liuda’s family, are still facing many daily challenges. We thank Liuda and Maryna for helping share these stories with our listeners and our region – and hope that Liuda and Zhenia’s first trip to the upper Midwest was a positive one.

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Maryna Nading

You can hear the previous episode of “Rhymes With Decorah” featuring Maryna Nading here. If you would like to connect with Maryna or help by donating funds to on-the-ground, grass roots organizations, please feel free to contact her at: bazyma01@luther.edu

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The US Department of State also has an excellent Fact Sheet / web resource for informational sources about the conflict in Ukraine, as well as ways to support relief efforts for the Ukrainian people. Click here for international NGOs and Non Profit Organizations, as well as free resources and information on hosting, visas, mental health / trauma, and more.

 

“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

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Winneshiek County Emergency Responders Receive Clinical Save Award

Winneshiek County emergency responders were presented with a Clinical Save award for their role in a cardiac arrest event that happened in December. 

Cardiac Arrest Event

Cy Nelson of Decorah and his friend Kevin Locke, M.D., were together at Cy’s home when he collapsed on the driveway.  Dr. Locke called 911 and began CPR.  The Winneshiek County 911 and Communications Center activated emergency responders.  Decorah Police Officer Adam Ytzen arrived and administered the first AED shock, and they were immediately joined by off-duty paramedic Steve Vanden Brink, who administered a second AED shock.  The WinnMed ambulance and crew arrived along with two additional off-duty paramedics, and together, they used their skills and the life-saving technology to transport Cy to WinnMed to the emergency nurses and physician standing ready.  With emergency services still at work, Gundersen Air emergency flight crew landed at WinnMed and transported Cy to Mayo Clinic Hospital, Saint Marys Campus in Rochester, where he was treated.

“I hear about what happened from everyone else!” says Cy.  “I don’t remember a bit of it, until I woke up in Rochester.  I don’t know what the Lord has planned for me, but I have been given a second chance and am focusing on my mission going forward.”

Cardiac Save Statistics

At the Clinical Save gathering, Vanden Brink shared that 90% of cardiac arrest events are fatal.  Additionally, only 7% of those who survive sudden cardiac arrest will be discharged from the hospital with no physical and/or neurological effects.  Vanden Brink says, “The systems we have in place make a difference.  At my last count, there are over 150 AEDs in various locations in Winneshiek County.  With our people, skills, and equipment, we are better prepared to respond to events like Cy’s and see a positive outcome.”

Responders who were recognized include:

  • Dr. Locke who called 911 and immediately started CPR,
  • Winneshiek County 911 and Communications Dispatcher Isaac Phillips who dispatched the call to responders,
  • Decorah Police Officer Adam Ytzen who quickly arrived on scene to provide defibrillation,
  • WinnMed paramedics (on and off-duty) who provided both basic and advanced life support therapy on scene,
  • Emergency nurses and physician who continued life-saving care in the WinnMed Emergency Department, and
  • Gundersen Air flight crew who provided life flight transport to advanced cardiac care.

“I thank each of you for your role in keeping me alive,” says Cy. “I am so grateful.”

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Rhymes With Decorah Podcast: Rhymes With Olivia Schnur – Mental Health Writer

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Olivia Lynn Schnur is a writer, Mental Health Counselor, and yoga teacher, with roots in NE Iowa! You may have read some of Olivia’s pieces in the pages of Inspire(d) over the past 4+ years, as she and Aryn have partnered to present various themes and topics throughout each issue. Olivia has a wealth of experience to draw from with her background as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Licensed Professional Counselor, and an EMDRIA-Certified EMDR Therapist. Yoga is also part of Olivia’s path, including becoming 200-Hour Certified Yoga Teacher and a Reiki Master, including additional training in trauma-sensitive yoga and yin yoga.

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We can’t thank Olivia enough for all her contributions to Inspire(d). We also invite you to look back at articles and issues from the past, including the “tear out” worksheets that you can download at the Inspire(d) website.

Find out more about Olivia’s work at https://oliviaschnur.com/

Thanks for listening!

“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

Decorah Family Saves by Installing Heat Pump Water Heater

Decorah’s Kim and Mary Glock recently upgraded their 50-gallon electric resistance water heater to an electric hybrid heat pump water heater, resulting in energy savings of about $650 annually. Follow along as we outline their journey.

The Glock’s new 50-gallon AO Smith hybrid heat pump water, installed for $3,400 before incentives

Water heating accounts for nearly 18% of energy use within the typical home, second only to space heating. The cost of heating all that water varies greatly depending on the type of fuel used. For example, the annual operating cost of a natural gas water heater is about $240, whereas an electric water heater costs about $650 a year. Having been in dozens, if not hundreds of area basements, I can tell you there are a lot of electric water heaters out there. Unfortunately, many new houses are still being built with electric resistance versions because the equipment is less expensive to install but they are far and away more expensive to operate.

Enter the hybrid heat pump water heater. Heat pump water heaters utilize an air source heat pump paired with a conventional electric resistance element for when the heat pump can’t meet demand. Physically, a heat pump version is not any different than a regular water heater, except that compared to some “lowboy” and short versions, they’re a bit taller.  In addition, they require condensate management because, as the heat pump operates, it produces condensate that must be gravity-drained or transferred with a condensate pump. Compared to a traditional electric water heater, however, they’re about 300% efficient, or in other words, use about 1/3 of the electricity.

RMI recently released a state-by-state analysis of the lifetime emissions of heat pumps for both space and water heating. They estimate that installing a heat pump water heater yields total lifetime emissions reductions of 75% compared to a gas version.

In my conversations with Kim and Mary Glock in preparation for this piece, they reiterated over and over the operational savings. According to Kim, “We’ve tried to do what we think is right…by replacing lighting with LEDs and appliances with Energy Star versions. But to be entirely honest, in doing those things we’ve really never noticed any electric bill savings, except for the water heater. We installed it, and by the next month our household kWh usage was cut in half.” Granted, savings probably aren’t that dramatic for most families, but for a household of two that is otherwise frugal, the savings can be dramatic.

Nevertheless, there are a few drawbacks to consider. First, since the tank and heat pump are contained in the same unit, it needs to be placed in a space volumetrically large enough to draw heat. The specifications vary by manufacturer but, generally speaking, the room the water heater sits in should be larger than a broom closet, and ideally in the same space as a furnace or boiler. Rheem recommends a space no less than 7’x10’x10’ in dimensions, but other manufacturers have requirements that are about half that. If those space constraints can’t be met, and all that’s available is a tiny water heater closet, consider adding a closet door with air louver vents.

Secondly, since heat pump water heaters heat water by utilizing energy contained within the indoor ambient air, they shouldn’t be installed in fully unconditioned (cold) basements. Minimum ambient operating temperature cutouts for the heat pump vary by manufacturer, but generally the heat pump will stop working if the air around it drops below 37-40°F. So, if you’re like me with a cold and poorly insulated basement, or currently have your water heater in the garage, a heat pump version might not be for you. If temperatures drop below the manufacturer-specified heat pump cutout, the water heater will continue to function, but only with the integrated electric resistance element, resulting in operational efficiencies on par with a conventional electric water heater.

Given available rebates and tax incentives, heat pump water heaters can make a lot of sense. Generally speaking, if switching from an existing electric water heater to a heat pump version, you might expect to spend $3,500 on a replacement. If you’re switching from natural gas, expect to spend $3,500 plus the additional cost of running a 30A-240V power supply, which likely increases the total installed cost to around $4,000. Factoring in available incentives, a heat pump hot water heater costs on par or slightly less than the gas alternative, and that’s even before factoring in energy savings over time.

The new 25C Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit allows homeowners to deduct 30% of project costs up to $2,000 for the installation of heat pumps for space and water heating. Local utility rebates vary, but generally are available from $225 to $300 per unit. And beginning late this year or early next year, the federal Home Electrification and Appliance Rebate, as part of the two-year-old Inflation Reduction Act, will potentially provide up to $1,750 off the installed cost. With the new rebate program, many households will be able to switch to heat pump versions at little or no cost.

Below is an example analysis of installing a heat pump water heater, not accounting for the soon-to-be IRA rebate, which might sweeten the pot by an additional $1,750.

Plastics at the Recycling Center

Happy Wednesday all! Remember to unscrew those bottle caps before tossing plastic bottles in the recycling bin, and ensure your plastic bottles are empty. Our recycling team appreciates the help! Also, another friendly reminder: we only accept HARD plastics with the magic numbers 1 or 2 in the recycling triangle. This number is usually found on the bottom of the plastic container. If there is a 3,4,5,6,7 or no number present, we cannot accept it. Thanks and keep up the good work!

The WinnMed Pharmacy in Decorah to open February 1

WinnMed will serve patients and the broader region in a new way beginning February 1, 2024 through the opening of their retail pharmacy.

Located in the renovated North Building on their Decorah campus, the WinnMed Pharmacy offers retail pharmacy services, including: prescription filling and education, over-the-counter medications, medication adherence packaging, medication synchronization, compounding, drug disposal, vaccines and other services. Future plans include pharmacists serving in a consultative role for the Mayo Clinic Health System clinical practice at WinnMed, and providing a meds-to-beds program for hospitalized patients ready for discharge.

The new WinnMed Pharmacy serves patients from all health systems and providers, and accepts most insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, Blue Cross, CVS/Caremark, ExpressScripts, Optum and many others. As patients refill prescriptions or request new prescriptions, staff will work with them and their insurance carriers to ensure in-network coverage prior to filling.

They offer convenient parking including handicapped spaces; mail and delivery services, and the new pharmacy features a drive-through option. 

Hours of operation are Monday – Friday, 9:00 am – 6:00 pm and Saturday, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm.  The pharmacy is closed Sundays and major holidays.

The WinnMed Pharmacy phone number is 563-387-3000.

The Donlon to WinnMed Pharmacy Transition

The WinnMed Board of Trustees approved the acquisition of Donlon Pharmacy in June of 2023.  Following an extensive renovation of WinnMed’s North Building, the pharmacy will transition from its downtown Decorah location to the WinnMed campus.

Important points to support the transition are:

  • Donlon Pharmacy’s last day of operation is Monday, January 29, 2024. WinnMed Pharmacy will open February 1, 2024 on the WinnMed campus (901 Montgomery Street, Decorah).
  • Upon Donlon’s closing on Monday, January 29 at 6pm, any prescriptions not picked up at Donlon Pharmacy will be returned to stock and will not be available to refill until the reopening as WinnMed Pharmacy on Thursday, February 1 at 9am.
  • All Donlon patients will automatically transition to WinnMed Pharmacy, unless the patient notifies the pharmacy of alternate preferences.
  • All Donlon pharmacy staff are transitioning to WinnMed. Patients will see familiar faces in the new pharmacy and work with the same people they know and trust.
  • WinnMed Pharmacy will participate in insurance networks that Donlon Pharmacy participates in, plus additional networks. Medication costs will be comparable or better than what patients are used to.

Mark Branum, Pharm.D., BCGP, served as Pharmacist-in-Charge at Donlon Pharmacy and continues in that role at WinnMed Pharmacy.  He says, “Our entire pharmacy staff is excited to be joining WinnMed and look forward to expanding our pharmacy services to help benefit members of our community. We are particularly happy to welcome patients from all providers and clinics as we accept nearly every insurance plan and will be a preferred provider in those networks.”

Steve Slessor, WinnMed Chief Administrative Officer, says, “We are thrilled to be able to continue the long-standing tradition of locally owned pharmacy services here at WinnMed. We have tremendous respect for Donlon Pharmacy, that team and the work it does for the community. To have that team joining us and to work with them to continue to enhance retail pharmacy offerings in this community is beyond exciting.”

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Rhymes With Decorah Podcast: Rhymes With Decorah – Kim Karr – Digital4Good #ICanHelp

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Decorah Native Kim Karr started her professional career in high school education, and quickly realized a need in the digital world – social media specifically, and the way that young people interact. Fast forward, and Kim has been the Executive Director of Digital4Good and #ICanHelp for a decade – making positive impact on a world wide audience.

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Digital4Good and #ICanHelp are agents of change committed to creating awareness of the mental health and digital safety of students and adults. Their work is focused on youth digital empowerment, and preventing cyberbullying or other types of abuse, through education and the promotion of student leadership.

Digital4Good is a Non Profit entity that is powered by three goals: Educate. Engage. Lead.

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Programs include:

– Student Leadership through Internships, Volunteers, and Mentors.

– Digital Citizenship Education via Curriculums, Courses, and Training.

– Community Engagement in Social Media, Events, and Webinars.

You can support the work of Decorah Native Kim Karr and the Non Profit Digital4Good and #ICanHelp by learning more or donating here

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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

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